ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Pertussis vaccination in pregnancy is safe, study finds
• Fast casual restaurant entrées higher in calories than fast food
• PTSD linked to low levels of fat hormone
• New PSA test examines protein structures to detect prostate cancers
• Innovative traffic interchanges help drivers avoid crashes, save lives
• Pesky squeaks and squeals caused by three types of 'stick-slip' behavior
• Chemists find 'huge shortcut' for organic synthesis using C-H bonds
• These audio cues are for the birds
• Could flies help us understand brain injuries?
• Abstinence may not be the best policy for avoiding online risk
• Cosmic dust reveals Earth's ancient atmosphere
• New challenge for caregivers: The internet
• Brain imaging links Alzheimer's decline to tau protein
• Researchers unveil new, detailed images of DNA transcription
• Children of depressed parents at high risk of adverse consequences into adulthood
• A quasiparticle collider
• Brazilian Zika virus strain causes birth defects in experimental models
• How the spectacular Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain became so bendy
• Exoplanets' complex orbital structure points to planetary migration in solar systems
• New potential marker for obesity found
• Genetic links to educational attainment identified
• Genetic variants may put some soldiers at higher risk of PTSD
• Fox squirrels' 'tell-tail' signs of frustration
• Climate change may have contributed to extinction of Neanderthals
• Revolutionary drug explained by scientists
• Paper gets 'smart' with drawn-on, stenciled sensor tags
• Quality of life meets cure for prostate cancer treatment
• 'Communication breakdown' during general anesthesia
• Altering a robot's gender and social roles may be a screen change away
• Mouse models of Zika in pregnancy show how fetuses become infected
• As exposure to chemical rises, so does risk of ending breastfeeding early
• Fetal mice with Zika infection get microcephaly
• Twin study finds that gut microbiomes run in families
• Archaeologists uncover 13,000-year-old bones of ancient, extinct species of bison at Old Vero Man site
• Lateral flow urine lipoarabinomannan assay for detecting active tuberculosis in HIV-positive adults
• New device could improve cancer detection
• Sensitivity to oxidative stress is not always linked to aging, study shows
• Validation of screening tool for ROS1 gene rearrangements
• Ways to improve patient comfort during skin cancer screening
• Fossil dog: New species roamed eastern North America 12 million years ago
• Heart attacks trending down, but low-income communities still lagging behind
• Brief report on mucocutaneous findings, course in adult with Zika virus infection
• New imaging technology allows scientists to peer even deeper into fatty arteries
• An enzyme enigma discovered in the abyss
• Too much folate in pregnant women increases risk for autism, study suggests
• Union bargaining coverage has a positive impact on some aspects of job satisfaction
• Repair cartilage potentially can heal horribly broken bones
• Swept up in the solar wind
• No symptoms, but could there be cancer? Chemosensor will detect it
• New brain research may help treat single-sided deafness
• Social objects in the brain
• Greater social media use tied to higher risk of eating, body image concerns
• Finding the next new tech material: The computational hunt for the weird and unusual
• Highway noise deters communication between birds
• New archaeological method finds children were skilled ceramists during the Bronze Age
• Tent camping could lead to flame retardant exposure
• Making organs transparent to improve nanomedicine
• How to make a faster ski
• Scientists take a major leap toward a 'perfect' quantum metamaterial
• What mountain gorillas reveal with their teeth

Pertussis vaccination in pregnancy is safe, study finds Posted: 11 May 2016 01:24 PM PDT Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine is recommended for all pregnant women in the U.S. as the key medical intervention to protect newborn infants from pertussis (whooping cough). However, the safety of giving the Tdap vaccine to pregnant women has not been fully determined. According to a new study the Tdap vaccine is safe for both mothers and infants.

Fast casual restaurant entrées higher in calories than fast food Posted: 11 May 2016 01:23 PM PDT Dieters looking to cut calories may believe it's best to pick a fast casual restaurant over a fast food chain, but new research shows that may not be the best choice. According to researchers, entrées at fast casual restaurants -- a category that includes restaurants such as Chipotle and Panera Bread -- have a higher average calorie count than fast food establishments, such as a McDonald's or Bojangles.

PTSD linked to low levels of fat hormone Posted: 11 May 2016 01:23 PM PDT Researchers report a biological mechanism that might explain why individuals coping with post-traumatic stress disorder are less able to extinguish the fear of past dangers.

New PSA test examines protein structures to detect prostate cancers Posted: 11 May 2016 01:23 PM PDT A promising new test is detecting prostate cancer more precisely than current tests, by identifying molecular changes in the prostate specific antigen (PSA) protein, according to new research.

Innovative traffic interchanges help drivers avoid crashes, save lives Posted: 11 May 2016 01:23 PM PDT The state of Missouri is a pioneer in adopting Diverging Diamond Interchanges (DDIs) named for their innovative design. At these interchanges drivers are diverted to the left side of the road prior to merging onto an interstate, freeway or highway. The first such interchange in the US opened in Springfield, Mo. in 2009. Recent studies from the University of Missouri have found that these unusual designs are safer and save lives.

Pesky squeaks and squeals caused by three types of 'stick-slip' behavior Posted: 11 May 2016 01:10 PM PDT Researchers have uncovered key features of the dynamics of a form of jerky motion responsible for phenomena as diverse as squeaks and squeals in door hinges and automotive brakes, joint wear in the human body and the sudden shifting of tectonic plates leading to earthquakes.

Chemists find 'huge shortcut' for organic synthesis using C-H bonds Posted: 11 May 2016 12:44 PM PDT Chemists have demonstrated the ability to selectively functionalize the unreactive carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds of an alkane without using a directing group, while also maintaining virtually full control of site selectivity and the three-dimensional shape of the molecules produced.

These audio cues are for the birds Posted: 11 May 2016 12:44 PM PDT While analyzing and untangling multiple environmental sounds is an important social tool for humans, for animals that analysis is a critical survival skill. Yet humans and animals use similar cues to make sense of their acoustic worlds, according to new research.

Could flies help us understand brain injuries? Posted: 11 May 2016 12:44 PM PDT Using fruit flies as a traumatic brain injury model may hold the key to identifying important genes and pathways that promote the repair of and minimize damage to the nervous system, new research suggests.

Abstinence may not be the best policy for avoiding online risk Posted: 11 May 2016 12:42 PM PDT The online world is full of risky situations for teens, but allowing them to gradually build their own coping strategies may be a better parental strategy than forbidding Internet use, according to a team of researchers.

Cosmic dust reveals Earth's ancient atmosphere Posted: 11 May 2016 12:42 PM PDT Using the oldest fossil micrometeorites -- space dust -- ever found, new research has made a surprising discovery about the chemistry of Earth's atmosphere 2.7 billion years ago.

New challenge for caregivers: The internet Posted: 11 May 2016 11:31 AM PDT What should caregivers do when their loved one is checking in on social media at the bank, essentially announcing their whereabouts? What if they are posting too often or don't remember making online purchases?

Brain imaging links Alzheimer's decline to tau protein Posted: 11 May 2016 11:31 AM PDT Using a new imaging agent that binds to tau protein and makes it visible in positron emission tomography (PET) scans, scientists have shown that measures of tau are better markers of the cognitive decline characteristic of Alzheimer's than measures of amyloid beta seen in PET scans.

Researchers unveil new, detailed images of DNA transcription Posted: 11 May 2016 11:24 AM PDT An unprecedented molecular view of the critical early events in gene expression, a process essential for all life, has been provided by researchers in a new study. Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), a technique that studies samples at cryogenic temperatures, combined with state-of-the-art computational modeling, allowed researchers to visualize large transcription pre-initiation complexes (PIC) at near-atomic resolution.

Children of depressed parents at high risk of adverse consequences into adulthood Posted: 11 May 2016 11:24 AM PDT The offspring of depressed parents have a higher risk for depression, morbidity and mortality that persists into middle age, the latest report from a 30-year study of families at high- and low-risk for depression reveals.

A quasiparticle collider Posted: 11 May 2016 11:24 AM PDT Experiments prove that basic collider concepts from particle physics can be transferred to solid-state research.

Brazilian Zika virus strain causes birth defects in experimental models Posted: 11 May 2016 11:23 AM PDT Researchers have described the first 'direct experimental proof' that the Brazilian strain of Zika virus can actually cause severe birth defects.

How the spectacular Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain became so bendy Posted: 11 May 2016 11:23 AM PDT The physical mechanism causing the unique, sharp bend in the spectacular Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain has now been uncovered. Researchers used a world-leading supercomputer to reveal flow patterns just above the Earth's core -- over the past 100 million years.

Exoplanets' complex orbital structure points to planetary migration in solar systems Posted: 11 May 2016 11:23 AM PDT The four planets of the Kepler-223 star system seem to have little in common with the planets of Earth's own solar system. And yet a new study shows that the Kepler-223 system is trapped in an orbital configuration that Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune may have broken from in the early history of the solar system.

New potential marker for obesity found Posted: 11 May 2016 11:23 AM PDT A potential new biological marker for the development of obesity has been found, along with a possible target for obesity prevention and treatment, report scientists.

Genetic links to educational attainment identified Posted: 11 May 2016 10:47 AM PDT Researchers have identified 74 areas of the human genome associated with educational attainment. It is well known that social and other environmental factors influence education, but these findings suggest that large genetics analyses may be able to help discover biological pathways as well.

Genetic variants may put some soldiers at higher risk of PTSD Posted: 11 May 2016 10:32 AM PDT In a massive analysis of DNA samples from more than 13,000 US soldiers, scientists have identified two statistically significant genetic variants that may be associated with an increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder, an often serious mental illness linked to earlier exposure to a traumatic event, such as combat and an act of violence.

Fox squirrels' 'tell-tail' signs of frustration Posted: 11 May 2016 10:32 AM PDT Fox squirrels flick their tails when they can't get a cherished nut in much the same way that humans kick a vending machine that fails to deliver the anticipated soda or candy bar, according to new research.

Climate change may have contributed to extinction of Neanderthals Posted: 11 May 2016 10:32 AM PDT Neanderthals in Europe showed signs of nutritional stress during periods of extreme cold, suggesting climate change may have contributed to their demise around 40,000 years ago.

Revolutionary drug explained by scientists Posted: 11 May 2016 10:31 AM PDT An international team now clarifies the molecular mechanism of a drug created in Russia and designed to prevent the damaging of cell mitochondria by reactive oxygen species.

Paper gets 'smart' with drawn-on, stenciled sensor tags Posted: 11 May 2016 10:31 AM PDT Researchers have created ways to give a piece of paper sensing capabilities that allows it to respond to gesture commands and connect to the digital world.

Quality of life meets cure for prostate cancer treatment Posted: 11 May 2016 10:17 AM PDT A new paper looks at how MRI and a clear understanding of the functional anatomy around the prostate can allow radiation oncologists to plan a course of treatment for patients with prostate cancer that spares these critical structures.

'Communication breakdown' during general anesthesia Posted: 11 May 2016 10:17 AM PDT Some anesthesia drugs work in a straightforward manner by dampening down neurons in the brain. The mechanism of one anesthetic, however, has proved elusive: ketamine. When ketamine is used for general anesthesia, two connected parts of the cortex turn to 'isolated cognitive islands,' researchers have found.

Altering a robot's gender and social roles may be a screen change away Posted: 11 May 2016 10:17 AM PDT Robots can keep their parts and still change their gender, according to researchers, who noted that the arrival of robots with screens has made it easier to assign distinct personalities.

Mouse models of Zika in pregnancy show how fetuses become infected Posted: 11 May 2016 10:17 AM PDT Two mouse models of Zika virus infection in pregnancy have been developed. In them, the virus migrated from the pregnant mouse's bloodstream into the placenta, where it multiplied, then spread into the fetal circulation and infected the brains of the developing pups.

As exposure to chemical rises, so does risk of ending breastfeeding early Posted: 11 May 2016 10:17 AM PDT In a new study of hundreds of Cincinnati moms, higher levels of exposure to the common industrial chemical PFOA were linked to a greater likelihood of ending breastfeeding by three months.

Fetal mice with Zika infection get microcephaly Posted: 11 May 2016 10:17 AM PDT Mouse fetuses injected with the Asian Zika virus strain and carried to term within their pregnant mothers display the characteristic features of microcephaly, researchers report. As expected, the virus infected the neural progenitor cells, and infected brains reveal expression of genes related to viral entry, altered immune response, and cell death. The authors say this is direct evidence that Zika infection causes microcephaly in an animal model.

Twin study finds that gut microbiomes run in families Posted: 11 May 2016 10:17 AM PDT A genome-wide association analysis of over 1,000 twins in the UK supports that some parts of our microbiomes are inherited and shaped -- not through a spread of microbes from parent to child, but through our genes. The results, reveal new examples of heritable bacterial species including those related to diet preference, metabolism, and immune defense.

Archaeologists uncover 13,000-year-old bones of ancient, extinct species of bison at Old Vero Man site Posted: 11 May 2016 09:38 AM PDT In what is considered one of the oldest and most important archaeological digs in North America, scientists have uncovered what they believe are the bones of a 13,000- to 14,000-year-old ancient, extinct species of bison at the Old Vero Man Site in Vero Beach, Fla.

Lateral flow urine lipoarabinomannan assay for detecting active tuberculosis in HIV-positive adults Posted: 11 May 2016 09:33 AM PDT An international review team has prepared a systematic review to assess the accuracy of a point-of-care urine test for diagnosing and screening tuberculosis (TB) in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

New device could improve cancer detection Posted: 11 May 2016 09:25 AM PDT A new method to isolate cancer cells that have escaped from a tumor could soon pave the way for improved diagnosis and treatment, say scientists. The simple process involves a special device that squeezes cells in a blood sample through tiny funnels, which drive the cancer cells and blood cells into separate streams based on differences in their size and softness.

Sensitivity to oxidative stress is not always linked to aging, study shows Posted: 11 May 2016 09:25 AM PDT An important breakthrough has been made in understanding the impact of oxygen exposure on the aging process of mammal cells. The findings of the research could pave the way for better understanding of the aging process in humans and new treatments against aging-associated diseases.

Validation of screening tool for ROS1 gene rearrangements Posted: 11 May 2016 09:25 AM PDT Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is an effective tool that can be used for identifying proto-oncogene 1 receptor tyrosine kinase (ROS1) gene rearrangements and screening patients for the administration of the targeted therapy crizotinib, a small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

Ways to improve patient comfort during skin cancer screening Posted: 11 May 2016 09:25 AM PDT Dermatologists can make patients more comfortable during full-body skin cancer screenings by respecting patient preferences for the physician's gender as well as whether, and how, they prefer to have their genitals examined, a new study indicates.

Fossil dog: New species roamed eastern North America 12 million years ago Posted: 11 May 2016 09:25 AM PDT A doctoral student at the University of Pennsylvania has identified a new species of fossil dog. The specimen, found in Maryland, would have roamed the coast of eastern North America approximately 12 million years ago, at a time when massive sharks like megalodon swam in the oceans.

Heart attacks trending down, but low-income communities still lagging behind Posted: 11 May 2016 09:25 AM PDT While heart attack rates across all income levels have declined significantly over the last 15 years, people living in low-income communities are still more likely to be hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction, according to a new study.

Brief report on mucocutaneous findings, course in adult with Zika virus infection Posted: 11 May 2016 09:25 AM PDT What are the mucocutaneous (skin and mucous membrane) features of a 44-year-old man who returned from a six-day vacation to Puerto Rico with confirmatory testing for Zika virus? Researchers describe the observations in a new article.

New imaging technology allows scientists to peer even deeper into fatty arteries Posted: 11 May 2016 07:54 AM PDT Researchers have improved upon previous instruments, developing a new IVPA catheter design with collinear overlap between optical and acoustic waves with a tiny probe. The design can greatly improve the sensitivity and imaging depth of IVPA imaging, revealing fatty arteries in all of their unctuous detail.

An enzyme enigma discovered in the abyss Posted: 11 May 2016 07:53 AM PDT Scientists have uncovered the secret of the 'Mona Lisa of chemical reactions' -- in a bacterium that lives at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. It is hoped the discovery could lead to the development of new antibiotics and other medical treatments.

Too much folate in pregnant women increases risk for autism, study suggests Posted: 11 May 2016 07:53 AM PDT Women who plan on becoming pregnant are told they need enough of the nutrient folate to ensure proper neurodevelopment of their babies, but new research suggests there could be serious risks in having far too much of the same nutrient.

Union bargaining coverage has a positive impact on some aspects of job satisfaction Posted: 11 May 2016 07:27 AM PDT Union bargaining coverage has significant positive associations with job satisfaction regarding pay and hours, academics have found.

Repair cartilage potentially can heal horribly broken bones Posted: 11 May 2016 07:26 AM PDT Hundreds of NFL players have invested in using stem cells to treat injuries, a new article reports. The publication revealed one NFL linebacker 'paid $6,000 a pop for a 1-milliliter vial of donated placenta tissue containing stem cells to be injected into each of his beat-up knees.' Now new research shows that stem cells could one day be stimulated to make a special type of cartilage to help repair large, hard-to-heal bone fractures.

Swept up in the solar wind Posted: 11 May 2016 07:26 AM PDT The sun's outer layer, the corona, constantly streams out charged particles called the solar wind. But it's not the kind of wind you can fly a kite in. Even the slowest solar wind can reach speeds 700,000 mph. And while scientists know a great deal about solar wind, the source and causes of the slow wind remain mysterious.

No symptoms, but could there be cancer? Chemosensor will detect it Posted: 11 May 2016 07:26 AM PDT Many cancers could be successfully treated if the patient consulted the doctor sufficiently early. But how can a developing cancer be detected if it doesn't give rise to any symptoms? In the near future, suitably early diagnosis could be provided by simple and cheap chemical sensors -- thanks to special recognizing polymer films recently developed.

New brain research may help treat single-sided deafness Posted: 11 May 2016 07:26 AM PDT A new discovery could help people suffering with single-sided deafness (SSD) find a treatment quicker -- and could potentially lead to a cure. SSD can be caused by a number of things -- from viral infections to brain tumors -- and is currently incurable and difficult to treat. Symptoms of SSD include impaired hearing, difficulty filtering out background noise, and difficulty determining sound direction.

Social objects in the brain Posted: 11 May 2016 07:26 AM PDT A new study used LEGO bricks to investigate the neurocognitive underpinnings of our engagements with symbolic objects. The study suggests that we experience symbolic objects as social entities.

Greater social media use tied to higher risk of eating, body image concerns Posted: 11 May 2016 07:25 AM PDT Logging on to social media sites frequently throughout the week or spending hours trolling various social feeds during the day is linked to a greater risk of young adults developing eating and body image concerns, an analysis discovered.

Finding the next new tech material: The computational hunt for the weird and unusual Posted: 11 May 2016 06:31 AM PDT Scientists are turning to the world of computation to guide their search for the next new material. Their program uses software code developed to map and predict the distinct structural, electronic, magnetic stable and metastable features that are often the source of an advanced material's unique capabilities.

Highway noise deters communication between birds Posted: 11 May 2016 06:31 AM PDT Northern cardinals and tufted titmice are two abundant bird species in the woods of eastern North America. Many bird and mammal species rely on information from tufted titmice calls to detect and respond to dangerous predators. This causes important information networks to form around tufted titmouse communication. Results of a new study suggests that too much noise around highways keeps birds from hearing warnings from fellow birds about predators in the area, and that puts them at a higher risk of being eaten. It is also possible that the birds are hearing the alarms, but are too distracted by the noise to respond to them.

New archaeological method finds children were skilled ceramists during the Bronze Age Posted: 11 May 2016 06:30 AM PDT Artisanal interpretation of ceramics from the Bronze Age shows that a nine-year-old child could be a highly skilled artisan. This was one of the discoveries presented in a new thesis that explores how an artisanal perspective can contribute to archaeology by providing new insights into archaeological artefacts.

Tent camping could lead to flame retardant exposure Posted: 11 May 2016 06:29 AM PDT For campers, nothing beats sleeping in a tent in the great outdoors. But scientists are finding out the air inside tents might not be as fresh as people think. A study has found that flame retardants used in the manufacturing of tents are released in the air within this enclosed space, which could lead to campers breathing them in.

Making organs transparent to improve nanomedicine Posted: 11 May 2016 06:29 AM PDT Treating a disease without causing side effects is one of the big promises of nanoparticle technology. But fulfilling it remains a challenge. One of the obstacles is that researchers have a hard time seeing where nanoparticles go once they're inside various parts of the body. But now one team has developed a way to help overcome this problem -- by making tissues and organs clearer in the lab.

How to make a faster ski Posted: 11 May 2016 06:29 AM PDT Although ski season is behind us, serious skiers are already looking ahead to next season and searching for ways to shave split-seconds off their race times. Now scientists may have a new way to help -- perhaps in time for the next Winter Olympics. One team has determined how the microscopic texture of the bottoms of skis could affect their speed, depending on snow temperature.

Scientists take a major leap toward a 'perfect' quantum metamaterial Posted: 11 May 2016 05:44 AM PDT Scientists have devised a way to build a "quantum metamaterial" -- an engineered material with exotic properties not found in nature -- using ultracold atoms trapped in an artificial crystal composed of light. The theoretical work represents a step toward manipulating atoms to transmit information, perform complex simulations or function as powerful sensors.

What mountain gorillas reveal with their teeth Posted: 11 May 2016 05:43 AM PDT Mountain gorillas from Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda eat up to 30 kilos of plants a day and their diet is highly varied in a habitat that is becoming increasingly fragmented as a result of illegal hunting and deforestation. For the first time, a study shows how dental morphology adapts to the food that is available. The information from the wear on their teeth is used to identify specimens that disappear.

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