ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Still-fresh remnants of Exxon Valdez oil 25 years after oil spill, found protected by boulders
• Why breastfed babies are so smart: Moms who breastfeed are often responsive and to read to their babies
• NASA's Kepler mission announces a planet bonanza, 715 new worlds
• Hubble monitors supernova in nearby galaxy M82
• Finding a few foes among billions of cellular friends
• Nanoscale freezing leads to better imaging
• Predictive fitness model for influenza: Physics, computer science help find clues on flu evolution
• Pine forest particles appear seemingly out of thin air, influence climate
• Physicists discover 'quantum droplet' in semiconductor
• Photopharmacology: Optoswitches turn pain off and sight on
• Sunburns strike twice by altering pigment cells, harming surrounding tissue
• Join the crowd: Digitize biodiversity research specimens
• Screen some patients with acute pancreatitis for pancreatic cancer, researchers suggest
• Can a simple handshake predict cancer survival rates?
• New advances in the chronic lymphocytic leukaemia genome
• Ovulation motivates women to outdo other women, research shows
• New target for dengue virus vaccine found
• Virtual computer-based world an effective learning environment for healthcare education
• Climate change puts wheat crops at risk of disease
• Moths trapped with plant-produced sex pheromone
• Optical 'nanocavity' to boost light absorption in semiconductors; improve solar cells, cameras and more
• Reproductive coercion, intimate partner violence prevalent
• Decline of bronze age 'megacities' linked to climate change
• Thirty-nine new species of endemic cockroach discovered in the southwestern US and Mexico
• Replicating motions of the heart: Artificial muscles that do the twist set the stage for soft robotics
• Superabsorbing design may lower manufacturing cost of thin film solar cells
• Causal link found between vitamin D, serotonin synthesis and autism in new study
• Language of love: Matching conjunctions, pronouns could spell a match better than good looks and fast cars
• Obesity rates in 2- to 5-year-olds improve, although overall obesity rates remain unchanged, U.S. study shows
• Algae's viability as a biofuel advanced
• Hormone therapy linked to better survival after lung cancer diagnosis in women
• Different eggs in adolescent girls, adult women
• Where have all the codfish gone? Research suggests food source loss has contributed
• Scientists blend synthetic air to measure climate change
• Whales, ships more common through Bering Strait
• Self-administration of flu vaccine with a patch may be feasible, study suggests
• Offshore wind farms could tame hurricanes before they reach land
• How small cosmic seeds grow into big stars
• Did five years of drought lead to two years of revolution in Syria?
• 'Super-Earths' may be dead worlds: Being in habitable zone is not enough
• Glimmer of light in the search for dark matter
• Creating complex nanoparticles in one easy step
• New autism definition may decrease diagnosis by one third
• Climate change causes high but predictable extinction risks
• Brain cell activity regulates Alzheimer's protein
• Risk of HIV infection high during pregnancy, the postpartum period
• Mass strandings of marine mammals blamed on toxic algae: Clues unearthed in ancient whale graveyard
• Skin cancer risk may have driven evolution of black skin
• 'Team of rivals' approach works for sparrows defending territories
• Increasing brain acidity may reduce anxiety
• Study of jaw mechanics sheds new light on early tetrapod feeding habits
• Brainstem discovered as important relay site after stroke
• Continuous handling of receipts linked to higher urine BPA levels
• MMR vaccine linked to lower rate of infection-related hospital admissions
• Phantom limb pain relieved when amputated arm is put back to work
• Simple waiting room test can help diagnose depression, anxiety
• New clues found to preventing lung transplant rejection
• Ordinary conditioner removes head lice eggs as effectively as special products
• Nuclear stiffness keeps stem cells, cancer cells in place
• Ecotoxicity: All clear for silver nanoparticles?

Still-fresh remnants of Exxon Valdez oil 25 years after oil spill, found protected by boulders Posted: 26 Feb 2014 12:56 PM PST Twenty-five years after the infamous Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, beaches on the Alaska Peninsula hundreds of kilometers from the incident still harbor small hidden pockets of surprisingly unchanged oil, according to new research.

Why breastfed babies are so smart: Moms who breastfeed are often responsive and to read to their babies Posted: 26 Feb 2014 12:56 PM PST Responsiveness to children's emotional cues boosts kids' math and reading skills. Reading to children as early as 9 months of age also significantly improves school readiness. The two parenting skills can give kids an extra 2-3 months' worth of brain development.

NASA's Kepler mission announces a planet bonanza, 715 new worlds Posted: 26 Feb 2014 12:33 PM PST NASA's Kepler mission announced Wednesday the discovery of 715 new planets. These newly-verified worlds orbit 305 stars, revealing multiple-planet systems much like our own solar system. Nearly 95 percent of these planets are smaller than Neptune, which is almost four times the size of Earth. This discovery marks a significant increase in the number of known small-sized planets more akin to Earth than previously identified exoplanets, which are planets outside our solar system.

Hubble monitors supernova in nearby galaxy M82 Posted: 26 Feb 2014 11:45 AM PST Astronomers have taken a Hubble Space Telescope composite image of a supernova explosion designated SN 2014J in the galaxy M82. At a distance of approximately 11.5 million light-years from Earth it is the closest supernova of its type discovered in the past few decades. The explosion is categorized as a Type Ia supernova, which is theorized to be triggered in binary systems consisting of a white dwarf and another star -- which could be a second white dwarf, a star like our sun, or a giant star.

Finding a few foes among billions of cellular friends Posted: 26 Feb 2014 10:30 AM PST Beating cancer is all about early detection, and new research is another step forward in catching the disease early. A team of chemists is reporting a new way to detect just a handful of lurking tumor cells, which can be outnumbered a billion to one in the bloodstream by healthy cells. The researchers have constructed an ultrasensitive nanoprobe that can electrochemically sense as few as four circulating tumor cells, and it doesn't require any enzymes to produce a detectable signal.

Nanoscale freezing leads to better imaging Posted: 26 Feb 2014 10:30 AM PST It's an odd twist. For scientists to determine if a cell is functioning properly, they must destroy it. This is what happens in X-ray fluorescence microscopy when biological specimens are exposed to ionizing radiation, which provides images with a level of detail that conventional microscopes just can't match. This exposure can change what is being imaged in profound ways, possibly giving false accounts of how the cell actually works. To address this issue, researchers created a new probe that freezes cells to "see" at greater detail without damaging the sample.

Predictive fitness model for influenza: Physics, computer science help find clues on flu evolution Posted: 26 Feb 2014 10:29 AM PST A new model to successfully predict the evolution of the influenza virus from one year to the next has been created by researchers. This advance in our understanding of influenza suggests a new, systematic way to select influenza vaccine strains. The flu is one of the major infectious diseases in humans. Seasonal strains of the influenza A virus account for about half a million deaths per year. Because influenza is a fast-evolving pathogen, the selection of optimal vaccines is a challenging global health issue. The scientists used ideas from physics and computer science in their approach to finding clues about the predictable versus random part of the flu evolution.

Pine forest particles appear seemingly out of thin air, influence climate Posted: 26 Feb 2014 10:29 AM PST Pine forests are especially magical places for atmospheric chemists. Coniferous trees give off pine-scented vapors that form particles, very quickly and seemingly out of nowhere. New research elucidates the process by which gas wafting from coniferous trees creates particles that can reflect sunlight or promote formation of clouds.

Physicists discover 'quantum droplet' in semiconductor Posted: 26 Feb 2014 10:29 AM PST Physicists have used an ultra-fast laser to discover a new semiconductor quasiparticle -- a handful of smaller particles that briefly condense into a liquid-like droplet. The discovery improves understanding of how electrons interact in various situations, including in optoelectronic devices.

Photopharmacology: Optoswitches turn pain off and sight on Posted: 26 Feb 2014 10:28 AM PST Photoreactive compounds developed by scientists directly modulate nerve-cell function, and open new routes to the treatment of neurological diseases, including chronic pain and certain types of visual impairment. All modes of sensory perception are based on communication between nerve cells. Both the response to the primary stimulus and the transmission of the resulting signal depend on the function of specialized receptor proteins that are associated with the surface membranes of neurons. Many sensory neurons respond only to a single sensory modality, such as mechanical stimulation or temperature. However, researchers have developed a method which, in principle, enables all types of neuroreceptors to be controlled by light.

Sunburns strike twice by altering pigment cells, harming surrounding tissue Posted: 26 Feb 2014 10:28 AM PST Melanoma is particularly dangerous because it can form metastases in vital organs such as the lungs, liver or brain. UV radiation is considered to be the most significant triggering factor. An interdisciplinary team of researchers has now discovered that sunburns contribute to the development of this malignant disease not only through direct alteration of pigment cell genomes but also indirectly through inflammatory processes in the surrounding tissue.

Join the crowd: Digitize biodiversity research specimens Posted: 26 Feb 2014 10:27 AM PST A crowdsourcing project aims to enable transcription of specimen labels and ledgers from the world's 3 billion biodiversity research specimens.

Screen some patients with acute pancreatitis for pancreatic cancer, researchers suggest Posted: 26 Feb 2014 10:27 AM PST There is a much higher risk of pancreatic cancer in patients with acute pancreatitis than commonly believed, new research demonstrates. researchers have found a link between acute pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) and pancreatic cancer, a finding which may eventually lead to some pancreatic cancers being detected earlier. Pancreatic cancer, the fourth most common cause of cancer death in the U.S., is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage because it has few early warning signs and no established screening method.

Can a simple handshake predict cancer survival rates? Posted: 26 Feb 2014 09:53 AM PST New acquaintances are often judged by their handshake. Research has now recognized the simple squeeze as an important diagnostic tool in assessing strength and quality of life among critical care patients. The test was simple: 203 patients fighting advanced-stage cancers squeezed a device known as a dynamometer with their dominant hand. The instrument then measured peak grip strength and information gleaned from that could predict, to some degree, survival rates among cancer patients.

New advances in the chronic lymphocytic leukaemia genome Posted: 26 Feb 2014 09:53 AM PST The Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia (CLL) Genome Consortium moves closer to the functional study of the genome and its application for improving the treatment of the disease. Researchers can now identify functional differences in leukemia cells. Their findings provide a new classification of the disease that could, eventually, improve predictions of the best time for starting treatment.

Ovulation motivates women to outdo other women, research shows Posted: 26 Feb 2014 09:53 AM PST For approximately one week every month, millions of women change their economic behavior and become more focused on their social standing relative to other women. According to new research, the ovulatory cycle alters women's behavior by subconsciously motivating them to outdo other women. Based on studies rooted in theory and research in evolutionary biology and evolutionary consumer behavior, their findings that ovulating women jockey for position over other women is consistent with the literature on animals. For example, studies have shown that female monkeys become more aggressive toward other females when fertile. This research could have important implications for marketers, consumers and researchers.

New target for dengue virus vaccine found Posted: 26 Feb 2014 09:53 AM PST Using an experimental technique new to the dengue field, researchers showed that a molecular hinge where two regions of a protein connect is where natural human antibodies attach to dengue type-3 to disable it. The finding shows that most human antibodies that neutralize the virus bind to this hinge. It's the first study to demonstrate how these binding sites can be genetically exchanged without disrupting the integrity of the virus.

Virtual computer-based world an effective learning environment for healthcare education Posted: 26 Feb 2014 09:53 AM PST Researchers have demonstrated the potential of using a virtual computer environment for distance healthcare education for an international audience that often has limited access to conventional teaching and training.

Climate change puts wheat crops at risk of disease Posted: 26 Feb 2014 09:52 AM PST There is a risk that severity of epidemics of some wheat diseases may increase within the next ten to twenty years due to the impacts of climate change according to a study by international researchers. The researchers carried out a survey in China to establish a link between weather and the severity of epidemics of fusarium ear blight on the wheat crops. This weather-based model was then used to predict the impact on severity of the disease of future weather scenarios for the period from 2020 to 2050.

Moths trapped with plant-produced sex pheromone Posted: 26 Feb 2014 09:52 AM PST By engineering plants that emitted sex pheromones that mimic those naturally produced by two species of moths, researchers have demonstrated that an effective, environmentally friendly, plant-based method of insect control is possible. While a proof-of-concept experiment, engineering plants to be insect pheromone-producing factories creates an environmentally friendly alternative to pesticides as well as an easier and less expensive method of synthesizing insect pheromones

Optical 'nanocavity' to boost light absorption in semiconductors; improve solar cells, cameras and more Posted: 26 Feb 2014 08:09 AM PST Scientists are developing an optical 'nanocavity' that boosts the amount of light that ultrathin semiconductors absorb. The advancement could lead to: more powerful photovoltaic cells; faster video cameras; and it could be useful for splitting water using energy from light, which could aid in the development of hydrogen fuel.

Reproductive coercion, intimate partner violence prevalent Posted: 26 Feb 2014 08:08 AM PST Enough women experience reproductive coercion -- male behavior to control contraception and pregnancy outcomes -- that a research team now recommends health care providers address the subjects with their patients and tailor family planning discussions and recommendations accordingly. "Reproductive coercion, co-occurring with intimate partner violence, is prevalent among women seeking general obstetrics and gynecology care," note the authors. In addition, reproductive coercion has been associated with intimate partner violence, including threats, physical injury, or sexual abuse.

Decline of bronze age 'megacities' linked to climate change Posted: 26 Feb 2014 08:08 AM PST Scientists have demonstrated that an abrupt weakening of the summer monsoon affected northwest India 4,100 years ago. The resulting drought coincided with the beginning of the decline of the metropolis-building Indus Civilization, which spanned present-day Pakistan and India, suggesting that climate change could be why many of the major cities of the civilization were abandoned.

Thirty-nine new species of endemic cockroach discovered in the southwestern US and Mexico Posted: 26 Feb 2014 08:08 AM PST An American systematist has described 39 new species of endemic desert cockroaches from the southwestern US and Mexico. The roaches belong to the genus Arenivaga, in one of the lesser known families of cockroaches, which previously held nine species.

Replicating motions of the heart: Artificial muscles that do the twist set the stage for soft robotics Posted: 26 Feb 2014 08:08 AM PST Researchers have developed a low-cost, programmable soft actuated material that they used to replicate the complex motion of the heart, along with a matching 3-D computer model. The advance sets the stage for new possibilities in the emerging field of soft robotics.

Superabsorbing design may lower manufacturing cost of thin film solar cells Posted: 26 Feb 2014 08:08 AM PST Researchers have developed a 'superabsorbing' design that may significantly improve the light absorption efficiency of thin film solar cells and drive down manufacturing costs.

Causal link found between vitamin D, serotonin synthesis and autism in new study Posted: 26 Feb 2014 08:08 AM PST Serotonin and vitamin D have been proposed to play a role in autism, however, no causal mechanism has been established. Now, researchers show that serotonin, oxytocin, and vasopressin, three brain hormones that affect social behavior related to autism, are all activated by vitamin D hormone. Supplementation with vitamin D and tryptophan would be a practical and affordable solution to help prevent autism and possibly ameliorate some symptoms of the disorder.

Language of love: Matching conjunctions, pronouns could spell a match better than good looks and fast cars Posted: 26 Feb 2014 08:06 AM PST People who use the same kinds of function words are more likely to find a match, a researcher suggests. After analyzing speed dating results, researchers discovered a positive correlation of function-word similarity with speed-daters' odds of going on a second date and long-term couples' odds of still being together three months after the study. Language similarity became an even better predictor of relationship stability when compared to other related variables, such as the perceived similarity with one's date, perceived relationship quality, and how many words people spoke to each other during each conversation.

Obesity rates in 2- to 5-year-olds improve, although overall obesity rates remain unchanged, U.S. study shows Posted: 26 Feb 2014 07:21 AM PST The latest U.S. obesity data show a significant decline in obesity among children aged 2 to 5 years. Obesity prevalence for this age group went from nearly 14 percent in 2003-2004 to just over 8 percent in 2011-2012 -- a decline of 43 percent. Obesity increased in women age 60 years and older, from 31.5 percent to more than 38 percent.

Algae's viability as a biofuel advanced Posted: 26 Feb 2014 07:18 AM PST Lab success doesn't always translate to real-world success. Scientists have now, however, invented a new technology that increases the odds of helping algae-based biofuels cross that gap and come closer to reality.

Hormone therapy linked to better survival after lung cancer diagnosis in women Posted: 26 Feb 2014 07:18 AM PST Survival among people with lung cancer has been better for women than men, and the findings of a recent study indicate that female hormones may be a factor in this difference. The combination of estrogen plus progesterone and the use of long-term hormone therapy were associated with the most significant improvements in survival.

Different eggs in adolescent girls, adult women Posted: 26 Feb 2014 07:18 AM PST Are the eggs produced by adolescent girls the same as the ones produced by adult women? A recent study shows compelling evidence that there are two completely distinct types of eggs in the mammalian ovary -- 'the first wave' and 'the adult wave.' The first wave of eggs, which starts immediately after birth, contributes to the onset of puberty and provides fertilizable eggs into the transition from adolescence to adulthood. In contrast, the adult wave remains in a state of dormancy until activated during the adult life and then provides eggs throughout the entire reproductive lifespan.

Where have all the codfish gone? Research suggests food source loss has contributed Posted: 26 Feb 2014 06:52 AM PST The mega-decline in cod and other fisheries across the North Atlantic Ocean threatens the livelihood of fishermen and communities in New England and Atlantic Canada. One suspect in the disappearance of cod and other groundfish is the food source for their young: a planktonic copepod crustacean. The first transcriptome for the key North Atlantic copepod Calanus finmarchicus has been published; scientists will use it to decode the genetic instructions that are resulting in population changes.

Scientists blend synthetic air to measure climate change Posted: 26 Feb 2014 06:52 AM PST Scientists have produced a synthetic air reference standard which can be used to accurately measure levels of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere. This will greatly help scientists contribute to our understanding of climate change.

Whales, ships more common through Bering Strait Posted: 26 Feb 2014 06:52 AM PST The Arctic is home to a growing number of whales and ships, and to populations of sub-Arctic whales that are expanding their territory into newly ice-free Arctic waters. A three-year survey of whales in the Bering Strait reveals that many species of whales are using the narrow waterway, while shipping and commercial traffic also increase.

Self-administration of flu vaccine with a patch may be feasible, study suggests Posted: 26 Feb 2014 06:48 AM PST The annual ritual of visiting a doctor's office or health clinic to receive a flu shot may soon be outdated, thanks to the findings of a new study. The research, which involved nearly 100 people recruited in the metropolitan Atlanta area, found that test subjects could successfully apply a prototype vaccine patch to themselves. That suggests the self-administration of vaccines with microneedle patches may one day be feasible, potentially reducing administration costs and relieving an annual burden on health care professionals. The study also suggested that the use of vaccine patches might increase the rate at which the population is vaccinated against influenza.

Offshore wind farms could tame hurricanes before they reach land Posted: 26 Feb 2014 04:50 AM PST Computer simulations have shown that offshore wind farms with thousands of wind turbines could have sapped the power of three real-life hurricanes, significantly decreasing their winds and accompanying storm surge, and possibly preventing billions of dollars in damages. In the case of Hurricane Katrina, the computer model revealed that an array of 78,000 wind turbines off the coast of New Orleans would have significantly weakened the hurricane well before it made landfall.

How small cosmic seeds grow into big stars Posted: 26 Feb 2014 04:49 AM PST New images provide the most detailed view yet of stellar nurseries within the Snake nebula. These images offer new insights into how cosmic seeds can grow into massive stars. Stretching across almost 100 light-years of space, the Snake nebula is located about 11,700 light-years from Earth in the direction of the constellation Ophiuchus.

Did five years of drought lead to two years of revolution in Syria? Posted: 26 Feb 2014 04:49 AM PST Negotiators in Geneva might not have brought the conflict in Syria to an end last week, but new research explains how the 2006–10 drought contributed to its start.

'Super-Earths' may be dead worlds: Being in habitable zone is not enough Posted: 26 Feb 2014 04:49 AM PST In the last 20 years the search for Earth-like planets around other stars has accelerated, with the launch of missions like the Kepler space telescope. Using these and observatories on the ground, astronomers have found numerous worlds that at first sight have similarities with the Earth. A few of these are even in the 'habitable zone' where the temperature is just right for water to be in liquid form and so are prime targets in the search for life elsewhere in the universe. New results suggest that for some of the recently discovered super-Earths, such as Kepler-62e and -62f, being in the habitable zone is not enough to make them habitats.

Glimmer of light in the search for dark matter Posted: 26 Feb 2014 04:48 AM PST Astrophysicists may have identified a trace of dark matter that could signify a new particle: the sterile neutrino. Another research group reported a very similar signal just a few days before.

Creating complex nanoparticles in one easy step Posted: 26 Feb 2014 04:48 AM PST Nanoparticle research is huge.  That is, the study of nanoparticles, very miniscule objects that act as a unit with specific properties, is a very popular area of study.  With implications in many avenues of science, from biomedicine to laser research, the study of how to create nanoparticles with desirable properties is becoming increasingly important.  Scientists have now made a breakthrough in synthesizing biomedically relevant nanoparticles.

New autism definition may decrease diagnosis by one third Posted: 26 Feb 2014 04:45 AM PST New diagnosis guidelines for autism spectrum disorder may reduce by almost one third the total number of people being diagnosed, according to new research. The guidelines, released in May 2013 and the first major update to psychiatric diagnosis criteria in almost two decades, may leave thousands of developmentally delayed children each year without the ASD diagnosis they need to qualify for social services, medical benefits and educational support.

Climate change causes high but predictable extinction risks Posted: 26 Feb 2014 04:45 AM PST Judging the effects of climate change on extinction may be easier than previously thought, according to a new article. Although widely used assessments of threatened species, such as the IUCN Red List, were not developed with the effects of climate change in mind, a study of 36 amphibian and reptile species endemic to the US has concluded that climate change may not be fundamentally different from other extinction threats in terms of identifying species in danger of extinction.

Brain cell activity regulates Alzheimer's protein Posted: 25 Feb 2014 04:34 PM PST Increased brain cell activity boosts brain fluid levels of a protein linked to Alzheimer's disease, according to new research. Tau protein is the main component of neurofibrillary tangles, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. It has been linked to other neurodegenerative disorders, including frontotemporal dementia, supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration. The regular patterns of tau spread through brain networks have led scientists to speculate that dysfunctional tau travels to different brain regions via synapses -- the areas where individual nerve cells communicate with each other.

Risk of HIV infection high during pregnancy, the postpartum period Posted: 25 Feb 2014 04:34 PM PST Women living in world regions where HIV infection is common are at high risk of acquiring HIV infection during pregnancy and the postpartum period, according to a study. The researchers also found that mothers who acquire HIV during pregnancy or postpartum are more likely to pass the infection on to their offspring than mothers with chronic HIV infections. "Detection and prevention of incident HIV in pregnancy/postpartum should be prioritized, and is critical to decrease [mother to child transmission]," they conclude.

Mass strandings of marine mammals blamed on toxic algae: Clues unearthed in ancient whale graveyard Posted: 25 Feb 2014 04:34 PM PST Modern whale strandings can be investigated and their causes identified. Events that happened millions of years ago, however, are far harder to analyze -- frequently leaving their cause a mystery. Scientists examined a large fossil site in the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile -- the first definitive example of repeated mass strandings of marine mammals in the fossil record. It reflected four distinct strandings over time, indicating a repeated and similar cause: toxic algae.

Skin cancer risk may have driven evolution of black skin Posted: 25 Feb 2014 04:34 PM PST Early humans may have evolved black skin to protect against a very high risk of dying from ultraviolet light-induced skin cancer, a new analysis concludes. Skin cancer has usually been rejected as the most likely selective pressure for the development of black skin because of a belief that it is only rarely fatal at ages young enough to affect reproduction. But a new paper cites evidence that black people with albinism from parts of Africa with the highest UV radiation exposure, and where humans first evolved, almost all die of skin cancer at a young age.

'Team of rivals' approach works for sparrows defending territories Posted: 25 Feb 2014 04:34 PM PST A new study of territorial songs used by chipping sparrows to defend their turf reveals that males sometimes will form a "dear enemy" alliance with a weaker neighbor to prevent a stronger rival from moving in. For the first time findings demonstrate the birds' use of a stereotyped, specialized signal, in this case chipping sparrow trills, to establish brief periods of cooperation among neighbor birds who are otherwise rivals.

Increasing brain acidity may reduce anxiety Posted: 25 Feb 2014 04:32 PM PST Increasing acidity in the brain's emotional control center reduces anxiety, according to an animal study. Anxiety disorders, which are characterized by an inability to control feelings of fear and uncertainty, are the most prevalent group of psychiatric diseases. At the cellular level, these disorders are associated with heightened activity in the basolateral amygdala (BLA), which is known to play a central role in emotional behavior. Many cells in the BLA possess acid-sensing ion channels called ASIC1a, which respond to pH changes in the environment outside of the cell. Researchers have found that activating ASIC1a decreased the activity of nearby cells and reduced anxiety-like behavior in animals

Study of jaw mechanics sheds new light on early tetrapod feeding habits Posted: 25 Feb 2014 04:32 PM PST A study of the jaws of one of the earliest known limbed vertebrates shows the species still fed underwater, not on land. Tetrapods -- the four-legged limbed vertebrates -- evolved from fish and include today's amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Acanthostega is regarded as one of the best known early tetrapods, and has played a key role in debates about tetrapod origins since spectacular new specimens were discovered in Greenland in 1987. Dating back to some 360 million years ago (end of the Devonian period); it has often been seen as a near-perfect fish-tetrapod intermediate.

Brainstem discovered as important relay site after stroke Posted: 25 Feb 2014 04:32 PM PST After a stroke, sufferers are often faced with the problem of severe movement impairment. Researchers have now discovered that the brainstem could play a major role in the recovery of motor functions. The projection of neurons from this ancient part of the brain into the spinal cord leads to the neural impulses needed for motion being rerouted. The brain does have a "considerable capacity for regeneration" explains the lead author.

Continuous handling of receipts linked to higher urine BPA levels Posted: 25 Feb 2014 01:27 PM PST Study participants who handled receipts printed on thermal paper continuously for two hours without gloves had an increase in urine bisphenol A (BPA) concentrations compared to when they wore gloves, according to a study. Human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) has been associated with adverse health outcomes, including reproductive function in adults and neurodevelopment in children exposed shortly before or after birth.

MMR vaccine linked to lower rate of infection-related hospital admissions Posted: 25 Feb 2014 01:27 PM PST In a nationwide group of Danish children, receipt of the live measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine on schedule after vaccination for other common infections was associated with a lower rate of hospital admissions for any infections, but particularly for lower respiratory tract infections, according to a study. Childhood vaccines are recommended worldwide, based on their protective effect against the targeted diseases.

Phantom limb pain relieved when amputated arm is put back to work Posted: 25 Feb 2014 01:26 PM PST A new method for the treatment of phantom limb pain after an amputation has been developed. The method is based on a unique combination of several technologies, and has been initially tested on a patient who has suffered from severe phantom limb pain for 48 years. A case study shows a drastic reduction of pain. The new method uses muscle signals from the patient's arm stump to drive a system known as augmented reality. The electrical signals in the muscles are sensed by electrodes on the skin. The signals are then translated into arm movements by complex algorithms. The patients can see themselves on a screen with a superimposed virtual arm, which is controlled using their own neural command in real time.

Simple waiting room test can help diagnose depression, anxiety Posted: 25 Feb 2014 01:25 PM PST Patients visiting the hospital for a variety of ailments can be easily screened for depression and anxiety as they wait for care, a new study shows. piloted an electronic questionnaire with patients in six specialty services in three London hospitals: rheumatology, limb reconstruction, hepatitis C, psoriasis, congenital heart disease and chronic pain. Patients were asked to complete questions on a wireless touch-screen device while in the waiting room. The test included questions about depression and anxiety, as well as physical health outcomes and health behaviors. Results were immediately transmitted to the health care provider, who could then discuss them with the patient during the visit. "This makes effective use of waiting room time, and provides useful, usable information in a format which is easy for non-mental health professionals to interpret and act upon," authors note.

New clues found to preventing lung transplant rejection Posted: 25 Feb 2014 01:25 PM PST Broadly suppressing the immune system after lung transplantation may inadvertently encourage organ rejection, according to a new study in mice. Organ transplant patients routinely receive drugs that stop their immune systems from attacking newly implanted hearts, livers, kidneys or lungs, which the body sees as foreign. In a surprising discovery, researchers found that newly transplanted lungs in mice were more likely to be rejected if key immune cells were missing, a situation that simulates what happens when patients take immunosuppressive drugs.

Ordinary conditioner removes head lice eggs as effectively as special products Posted: 25 Feb 2014 11:39 AM PST Some shampoos and conditioners that contain chemicals or special oils are marketed as nit-removal products for head lice eggs. However, new research shows that ordinary hair conditioner is just as effective. Eggs from head lice, also called nits, are incredibly difficult to remove. Female lice lay eggs directly onto strands of hair, and they cement them in place with a glue-like substance, making them hard to get rid of. In fact, the eggs are glued down so strongly that they will stay in place even after hair has been treated with pediculicides -- substances used to kill lice.

Nuclear stiffness keeps stem cells, cancer cells in place Posted: 25 Feb 2014 11:39 AM PST Adult stem cells and cancer cells have many things in common, including an ability to migrate through tiny gaps in tissue. Both types of cells also experience a trade-off when it comes to this ability; having a flexible nucleus makes migration easier but is worse at protecting the nucleus' DNA compared to a stiffer nucleus. Nuclear proteins that regulate nuclear stiffness are therefore thought to control processes as diverse as tissue repair and tumor growth.

Ecotoxicity: All clear for silver nanoparticles? Posted: 25 Feb 2014 10:45 AM PST It has long been known that, in the form of free ions, silver particles can be highly toxic to aquatic organisms. Yet to this day, there is a lack of detailed knowledge about the doses required to trigger a response and how the organisms deal with this kind of stress. In the past, silver mostly found its way into the environment in the vicinity of silver mines or via wastewater emanating from the photo industry. More recently, silver nanoparticles have become commonplace in many applications -- as ingredients in cosmetics, food packaging, disinfectants, and functional clothing. To learn more about the cellular processes that occur in the cells, scientists subjected algae to a range of silver concentrations.

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