ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Facial selection technique for ads can increase buyers by 15 percent, study says
• How nerve cells flexibly adapt to acoustic signals
• Brain cell discovery could open doors to targeted cancer therapies
• Development of new cell models that report circadian clock function
• Protein researchers closing in on the mystery of schizophrenia
• Climate paradox deciphered from the Miocene era
• Eye of the beholder: Improving the human-robot connection
• Taking iron improves women's exercise performance, study shows
• Controversy over nitrogen's ocean 'exit strategies' resolved
• Tibetan Plateau was larger than previously thought, geologists say
• Appearance of night-shining clouds has increased
• Greenland ice cores show industrial record of acid rain, success of US Clean Air Act
• Immunotherapy could help tackle tough liver cancer
• Viral hepatitis more deadly than HIV in Europe
• Positive outcomes for hepatitis C transplant patients
• Sensitive balance in immune system: How one molecule can affect health outcomes
• Devil in disguise: Small coral-eating worm may mean big trouble for reefs
• New self-healing plastics developed
• Taming of the shrew: Bicolored shrew a health risk for horses
• Young athletes from higher income families more likely to suffer serious overuse injuries
• Splice variants reveal connections among autism genes
• Global poverty could be up to a third higher than reported
• Scientists grow cartilage to reconstruct nose
• Sneak a peek through the mist to technology of the future
• 3-D printing cancer cells to mimic tumors
• 'Body hack' app by math researchers shortcuts jet-lag recovery
• New drug, molecular insight into triple negative breast cancers
• Scientists report success growing cartilage to reconstruct nostrils and implanting tissue-engineered vaginal organs into humans
• Drug provides health benefits to diabetics with kidney disease
• Common virus may cause anemia in patients with kidney disease
• Laboratory-grown vaginas implanted in patients
• Antennae help flies 'cruise' in gusty winds
• A modern twist on Young's slits
• Multilayer polymers spring into action: Mechanical vibrations turned into electrical energy
• Forever clean? Metal–organic 'micromushrooms' repel all
• Bioanalysis: Microbeads are easily fixed
• Policy recommendations for reducing gun-related injuries, deaths in US
• Medicare's flawed adjustment methodology poor way to spend billions
• For sick, elderly patients, surgical decision making 'takes a village'
• Possible new target to attack flu virus identified
• Single mothers don't delay marriage just to boost tax credit, study says

Facial selection technique for ads can increase buyers by 15 percent, study says Posted: 11 Apr 2014 07:31 AM PDT Merely changing the face of a model in an ad increases the number of potential purchasers by as much as 15 percent (8 percent on average), according to a study. The study shows that a technique to screen faces when designing ads can transform the current subjective process into a scientifically automated one. Considering the extensive use of human faces in advertising (over 50% of print ads contain human faces), this technique may be quite profitable.

How nerve cells flexibly adapt to acoustic signals Posted: 11 Apr 2014 07:31 AM PDT Nerve cells flexibly adapt to acoustic signals, research has shown. Depending on the input signal, neurons generate action potentials either near or far away from the cell body. Nerve cells ensure that the various kinds of input signals are optimally processed -- and thus allow us to perceive both small and large acoustic arrival time differences well, and thereby localize sounds in space.

Brain cell discovery could open doors to targeted cancer therapies Posted: 11 Apr 2014 07:31 AM PDT Fresh insights into the processes that control brain cell production could pave the way for treatments for brain cancer and other brain-related disorders. Researchers have focused on a RNA molecule, known as miR-9, which is linked to the development of brain cells, known as neurons and glial cells. They have shown that a protein called Lin28a regulates the production of miR-9, which in turn controls the genes involved in brain cell development and function.

Development of new cell models that report circadian clock function Posted: 11 Apr 2014 07:31 AM PDT The development of robust new liver and fat cell models that report circadian clock function have been developed by scientists. The consequences of modern life -- eating and staying up later, shift work, cell phone addiction, travel -- all disturb internal clocks. These clocks are found in the brain where they regulate sleep, and also throughout the body, where they regulate much of our physiology and metabolism. Disrupting these clocks is called circadian misalignment which has been linked to metabolic problems. These new cellular clock models could help scientists find new drugs that reset or help restore robust rhythms to metabolic clocks.

Protein researchers closing in on the mystery of schizophrenia Posted: 11 Apr 2014 07:31 AM PDT Schizophrenia is a severe disease for which there is still no effective medical treatment. In an attempt to understand exactly what happens in the brain of a schizophrenic person, researchers have analyzed proteins in the brains of rats that have been given hallucinogenic drugs. This may pave the way for new and better medicines.

Climate paradox deciphered from the Miocene era Posted: 11 Apr 2014 07:31 AM PDT A supposed climate paradox from the Miocene era has been deciphered by means of complex model simulations. When the Antarctic ice sheet grew to its present-day size around 14 million years ago, it did not get colder everywhere on the Earth, but there were regions that became warmer. This appears to be a physical contradiction, and this research aims to address that.

Eye of the beholder: Improving the human-robot connection Posted: 11 Apr 2014 06:23 AM PDT Researchers are programming robots to communicate with people using human-like body language and cues, an important step toward bringing robots into homes.

Taking iron improves women's exercise performance, study shows Posted: 11 Apr 2014 06:23 AM PDT Women who take iron supplements experience a marked improvement in their exercise performance, a new study shows. Iron supplementation improved women's exercise performance, in terms of both the highest level they could achieve at 100% exertion (maximal capacity) and their exercise efficiency at a submaximal exertion. Women who were given iron were able to perform a given exercise using a lower heart rate and at a higher efficiency.

Controversy over nitrogen's ocean 'exit strategies' resolved Posted: 11 Apr 2014 06:23 AM PDT A decades-long debate over the dominant way that nitrogen is removed from the ocean may now be settled. Researchers found that both of the nitrogen 'exit strategies,' denitrification and anammox, are at work in the oceans. The debate centers on how nitrogen -- one of the most important food sources for ocean life and a controller of atmospheric carbon dioxide -- becomes converted to a form that can exit the ocean and return to the atmosphere where it is reused in the global nitrogen cycle.

Tibetan Plateau was larger than previously thought, geologists say Posted: 11 Apr 2014 06:19 AM PDT The Tibetan Plateau -- the world's largest, highest, and flattest plateau -- had a larger initial extent than previously documented, Earth scientists have demonstrated. Known as the "Roof of the World," the Tibetan Plateau covers more than 970,000 square miles in Asia and India and reaches heights of over 15,000 feet. The plateau also contains a host of natural resources, including large mineral deposits and tens of thousands of glaciers, and is the headwaters of many major drainage basins.

Appearance of night-shining clouds has increased Posted: 11 Apr 2014 06:19 AM PDT First spotted in 1885, silvery blue clouds sometimes hover in the night sky near the poles, appearing to give off their own glowing light. Known as noctilucent clouds, this phenomenon began to be sighted at lower and lower latitudes -- between the 40th and 50th parallel -- during the 20th century, causing scientists to wonder if the region these clouds inhabit had indeed changed -- information that would tie in with understanding the weather and climate of all Earth.

Greenland ice cores show industrial record of acid rain, success of US Clean Air Act Posted: 11 Apr 2014 06:18 AM PDT Detailed ice core measurements show smog-related ratios leveling off in 1970, and suggest these deposits are sensitive to the same chemicals that cause acid rain. By analyzing samples from the Greenland ice sheet, atmospheric scientists found clear evidence of the U.S. Clean Air Act. They also discovered a link between air acidity and how nitrogen is preserved in layers of snow.

Immunotherapy could help tackle tough liver cancer Posted: 11 Apr 2014 06:18 AM PDT Significant new data indicate that liver cancer may be treated by adoptive T cell therapy. This new therapeutic approach in the treatment of HCC could be very important as without treatment the 5 year survival rate is just 5%. Globally, HCC accounts for 746,000 deaths, and in the UK alone is responsible for over 4,000 deaths per year.

Viral hepatitis more deadly than HIV in Europe Posted: 11 Apr 2014 06:18 AM PDT Mortality from viral hepatitis is significantly higher than from HIV/AIDS across EU countries, according to study results. Globally, deaths from both viral hepatitis and HIV increased from 1990-2010 with HIV/AIDS ranking 6th (1.47 million deaths) and viral hepatitis B and C combined ranking 9th, with 1.29 million deaths in 2010.

Positive outcomes for hepatitis C transplant patients Posted: 11 Apr 2014 06:18 AM PDT There is new hope for the notoriously difficult-to-treat population of liver transplant patients with recurring hepatitis C, researchers have announced. Hepatitis C infection is a common cause of liver transplantation, with virus-related diseases comprising 40% of primary indications for liver transplantation in Europe among patients with cirrhosis. More than 5,500 liver transplantations are currently performed in Europe per year.

Sensitive balance in immune system: How one molecule can affect health outcomes Posted: 11 Apr 2014 06:18 AM PDT The protein c-FLIPR plays a key role in controlling a 'cellular suicide' process named 'apoptosis.' Scientists have described the significance of c-FLIPR for the immune system in detail: In the presence of an excess of this molecule, mice can fight infectious diseases better, but they develop autoimmune diseases as they get older. The inhibitory effect of c-FLIPR on apoptosis is the underlying cause in both cases.

Devil in disguise: Small coral-eating worm may mean big trouble for reefs Posted: 11 Apr 2014 06:17 AM PDT A coral-eating flatworm has been identified as a potential threat for coral reefs. It is barely possible to see the parasitic worm Amakusaplana acroporae when it sits on its favorite hosts, the staghorn coral Acropora, thanks to its excellent camouflage. However, the researchers found that the small flatworm could cause significant damage to coral reefs.

New self-healing plastics developed Posted: 11 Apr 2014 06:14 AM PDT Scratches in the car finish or cracks in polymer material: Self-healing materials can repair themselves by restoring their initial molecular structure after the damage. Scientists have now developed a chemical crosslinking reaction that ensures good short-term healing properties of the material under mild heating.

Taming of the shrew: Bicolored shrew a health risk for horses Posted: 11 Apr 2014 06:14 AM PDT The bicolored shrew is a protected species in Central Europe, but these furry insect-eaters have a dark secret. Researchers have discovered that bicolored shrews carry the Borna virus. Infection with this virus causes fatal encephalitis in horses. The mechanisms of transmission had until now been unclear, but we now know more about one route - from bicolored shrews to hosts.

Young athletes from higher income families more likely to suffer serious overuse injuries Posted: 11 Apr 2014 06:13 AM PDT Young athletes from higher income families are more likely to specialize in one sport, and also more likely to suffer serious overuse injuries such as stress fractures, according to the first study of its kind. The rate of serious overuse injuries in athletes who come from families that can afford private insurance is 68 percent higher than the rate in lower-income athletes who are on public insurance (Medicaid), the study found.

Splice variants reveal connections among autism genes Posted: 11 Apr 2014 06:13 AM PDT A new aspect of autism has been discovered, revealing that proteins involved in autism interact with many more partners than previously known. The scientists isolated hundreds of new variants of autism genes from the human brain, and then screened their protein products against thousands of other proteins to identify interacting partners. Proteins produced by alternatively-spliced autism genes and their many partners formed a biological network that produced an unprecedented view of how autism genes are connected.

Global poverty could be up to a third higher than reported Posted: 10 Apr 2014 04:46 PM PDT With over one billion people in the world living on less than $1.25 per day, the World Bank aims to end 'extreme poverty' by 2030. But new research suggests that global poverty figures could be underestimated by up to a third, and calls for more robust measurement in the future. The World Bank figures are widely used by the international community and play a significant role in international strategies to reduce poverty.

Scientists grow cartilage to reconstruct nose Posted: 10 Apr 2014 04:46 PM PDT Scientists report first ever successful nose reconstruction surgery using cartilage grown in the laboratory. Cartilage cells were extracted from the patient's nasal septum, multiplied and expanded onto a collagen membrane. The so-called engineered cartilage was then shaped according to the defect and implanted.

Sneak a peek through the mist to technology of the future Posted: 10 Apr 2014 04:46 PM PDT A tabletop display with personal screens made from a curtain of mist that allow users to move images around and push through the fog-screens and onto the display, will be unveiled at an international conference.

3-D printing cancer cells to mimic tumors Posted: 10 Apr 2014 04:46 PM PDT A 3-D model of a cancerous tumor using a 3-D printer has been successfully created by researchers. The model consists of a grid structure, 10 mm in width and length, made from gelatin, alginate and fibrin, which recreates the fibrous proteins that make up the extracellular matrix of a tumor. "With further understanding of these 3D models, we can use them to study the development, invasion, metastasis and treatment of cancer using specific cancer cells from patients. We can also use these models to test the efficacy and safety of new cancer treatment therapies and new cancer drugs," the lead author stated.

'Body hack' app by math researchers shortcuts jet-lag recovery Posted: 10 Apr 2014 04:46 PM PDT A different kind of jet-lag mobile app released today by mathematicians reveals previously unknown shortcuts that can help travelers snap their internal clocks to new time zones as efficiently as possible.

New drug, molecular insight into triple negative breast cancers Posted: 10 Apr 2014 04:46 PM PDT Scientists have showcased a new drug active against triple-negative breast cancer, and through analysis of the drug's mechanism of action, offer increased understanding of the biology of this very aggressive form of breast cancer.

Scientists report success growing cartilage to reconstruct nostrils and implanting tissue-engineered vaginal organs into humans Posted: 10 Apr 2014 04:43 PM PDT Two new articles report the first ever successful operations in humans to reconstruct the alar wings of the nose (nostrils), and to implant tissue-engineered vaginal organs in women with a rare syndrome that causes the vagina to be underdeveloped or absent, in both cases using the patients' own tissue.

Drug provides health benefits to diabetics with kidney disease Posted: 10 Apr 2014 04:43 PM PDT Low doses of atrasentan, an endothelin receptor A inhibitor, lowered urinary protein excretion by 36% in patients with diabetes and kidney disease in a new study. Atrasentan also lowered blood pressure and cholesterol levels without causing major side effects.

Common virus may cause anemia in patients with kidney disease Posted: 10 Apr 2014 04:43 PM PDT Kidneys from most patients with chronic kidney disease in a new study were positive for active cytomegalovirus infection. Patients with higher levels of anti-cytomegalovirus antibodies in their blood had lower number of red blood cells. Cytomegalovirus blocks a protein needed to make a hormone that in turn stimulates red blood cell production.

Laboratory-grown vaginas implanted in patients Posted: 10 Apr 2014 04:43 PM PDT Scientists reported the first human recipients of laboratory-grown vaginal organs. They have described long-term success in four teenage girls who received vaginal organs that were engineered with their own cells.

Antennae help flies 'cruise' in gusty winds Posted: 10 Apr 2014 01:03 PM PDT Researchers combined bursts of air, digital video cameras, and a variety of software and sensors to explain a mechanism for a fruit fly's 'cruise control' in flight -- revealing a relationship between a fly's vision and its wind-sensing antennae.

A modern twist on Young's slits Posted: 10 Apr 2014 01:02 PM PDT A landmark experiment on wave interference from the early 1800s is revisited using gold nanoparticles. In the eighteenth century, scientists faced a conundrum: is light a wave or a particle? One of strongest pieces of evidence to support the 'wave view' -- the landmark double-slit experiment -- was reported in 1804 by the scientist Thomas Young. Young passed coherent light through two closely spaced slits and observed a set of interference fringes, a result that occurs with wave phenomena like sound or water. This observation became the basis for the modern wave theory of light.

Multilayer polymers spring into action: Mechanical vibrations turned into electrical energy Posted: 10 Apr 2014 01:02 PM PDT Flexible plastics that turn mechanical vibrations into electrical energy could spur the development of self-powered sensors and devices. The shrinking dimensions and decreased power consumption of modern electronic gadgets have created opportunities for energy harvesting processes that tap into free, green energy from the environment. Vibration harvesters, for example, produce small amounts of electricity from everyday mechanical disturbances such as wind currents, traffic noise or footsteps.

Forever clean? Metal–organic 'micromushrooms' repel all Posted: 10 Apr 2014 01:02 PM PDT A clever chemical transformation yields surface-bound microstructures that efficiently drive away oil- and water-based contaminants. Natural surfaces that repel water, such as lotus leaves or butterfly wings, often have a rough, microscale texture that traps air beneath the liquid droplet. By mimicking these biological structures, researchers have developed 'superhydrophobic' coatings that are highly resistant to wetting. One trick unknown to nature, however, is the ability to repel hydrocarbon-based oils that have much lower surface tension than water and tend to spread out rather than bead up.

Bioanalysis: Microbeads are easily fixed Posted: 10 Apr 2014 01:02 PM PDT A passive method for sorting and fixing microbeads of different sizes could lead to cheaper and more functional biological assays, researchers report. Biological assays are an integral part of the researcher's toolkit in the fields of biomolecular chemistry and genomics. Microfluidic microbead systems, which consist of arrays of beads coated with an assay-specific reagent, have revolutionized biological assay technology by allowing the high-throughput detection of target molecules from small sample volumes. Fabrication of the microbead systems, however, requires great care and various ancillary devices.

Policy recommendations for reducing gun-related injuries, deaths in US Posted: 10 Apr 2014 12:36 PM PDT Nine strategies to address the societal, health care, and regulatory barriers to reducing firearms-related violence, injuries, and deaths in the United States has been developed. Principal among the strategic imperatives is the recommendation to approach firearm safety as a public health issue so that policy decisions are based on scientific evidence.

Medicare's flawed adjustment methodology poor way to spend billions Posted: 10 Apr 2014 12:36 PM PDT The methodology Medicare uses to adjust the billions of dollars it pays health plans and hospitals to account for how sick their patients are is flawed and should be replaced, according to a new study that weighed the performance of Medicare's methodology against alternatives. Medicare payments to Medicare Advantage plans are projected to surpass $154 billion in 2014, and account for more than a fourth of total Medicare spending, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

For sick, elderly patients, surgical decision making 'takes a village' Posted: 10 Apr 2014 12:36 PM PDT Surgery for sick, elderly patients can be very risky. Decision making surrounding a possible surgical procedure should be orchestrated by a multidisciplinary team, including the patient, his or her family, the surgeon, primary care physician, nurses and non-clinicians, such as social workers, advocates say.

Possible new target to attack flu virus identified Posted: 10 Apr 2014 12:36 PM PDT A protein produced by the influenza A virus helps it outwit one of our body's natural defense mechanisms, researchers have found. That makes the protein a potentially good target for antiviral drugs directed against the influenza A virus. When an influenza virus infects a human cell, it uses some of the host's cellular machinery to make copies of itself, or replicate. In this study, the researchers discovered that a protein produced by human body cells, DDX21, blocks this replication process.

Single mothers don't delay marriage just to boost tax credit, study says Posted: 10 Apr 2014 12:35 PM PDT When the Earned Income Tax Credit was expanded in 1993 in the United States, supporters hoped it would reward poor parents for working while critics feared that it might discourage single mothers from marrying or incentivize women to have more children to boost their tax refund. A new collaborative study reveals the EITC has helped the working poor but hasn't affected personal choices.

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