ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• An apple a day keeps the doctor away
• Experts discover whether it's better to be right or be happy
• Lower Rio Grande Basin study shows shortfall in future water supply
• Importance of food as key provider of vitamins and nutrients
• A roly-poly pika gathers much moss: High-fiber salad bar may help lagomorphs survive climate change
• DNA motor 'walks' along nanotube, transports tiny particle
• Hack the planet? Geoengineering research, ethics, governance explored
• Significant advance reported with genetically modified poplar trees
• Exposing the roots of the lithium battery problem
• Researchers develop advanced 3D 'force microscope'
• Study finds known lung cancer oncogenes also drive colorectal cancer
• Economic impact of oil and natural gas in West Texas
• Rainforest rodents risk their lives to eat
• Changes in proteins may predict ALS progression
• New system of assessments needed when next generation science standards are implemented, report says
• Home-making post-disaster
• Never forget a face: New algorithm uses subtle changes to make a face more memorable without changing a person's overall appearance
• Targeted synthesis of natural products with light
• Economically valuable sweet-gum trees: Taxonomy and nine new combinations
• Uranium (IV) found to be mobile in a natural wetland
• Overworked cellular machines may explain Gaucher disease link to Parkinson's disease
• Bonobos stay young longer: Unlike humans and chimpanzees, bonobos retain elevated thyroid hormones well into adulthood
• Researchers discover mechanism controlling development of myelodysplastic syndromes
• Study indicates oral garlic not useful in treating vaginal thrush
• Study: Pay kids to eat fruits, vegetables
• Fungal pathogen shows profound effects from spaceflight
• Sharpening focus in quantum photolithography
• Brain neurons subtract images, use differences
• Research backs risk-reduction surgery for ovarian cancer
• Infrared sheds light on single protein complexes
• Radioactivity muddles alphabet of DNA
• Discovery of 'teen gene' could hold promise for combating severe mental illnesses
• Astronomers develop software for the Gaia satellite
• Epidemic of escherichia coli infections traced to one strain of bacteria
• Hubble watches super star create holiday light show
• Researchers show genetic overlap in schizophrenia, cognitive ability
• Pain drugs used in prostate gland removal linked to cancer outcome, study finds
• Smoking changes our genes
• New control pathways in synthesis of plant chemical defences
• Drug residues in Swedish sewage water
• Experts to image event horizon of black hole
• Infrared sheds light on single protein complexes
• Self-worth boosts ability to overcome poverty
• Massive stars mark out Milky Way's 'missing arms'
• Ancestor of snakes, lizards likely gave birth to live young
• Poor owner knowledge of cat sex life linked to 850,000 unplanned kittens every year
• Ear acupuncture can help shed pounds
• Study analyzes diabetes drug metformin as obesity treatment for children
• Antihypertensives associated with lower dialysis risk for patients with advanced CKD
• Physicians who prefer hospice care for themselves more likely to discuss it with patients
• Teaching residents to provide cost-conscious care
• Regenerative medicine: New tool for transplanting stem cells
• CEOs tend to overstay their welcome, hurting firm performance, new study finds

An apple a day keeps the doctor away Posted: 17 Dec 2013 06:05 PM PST Prescribing an apple a day to all adults aged 50 and over would prevent or delay around 8,500 vascular deaths such as heart attacks and strokes every year in the UK -- similar to giving statins to everyone over 50 years who is not already taking them -- according to a study.

Experts discover whether it's better to be right or be happy Posted: 17 Dec 2013 06:05 PM PST Doctors see many couples who lead unnecessarily stressful lives by wanting to be right rather than happy.

Lower Rio Grande Basin study shows shortfall in future water supply Posted: 17 Dec 2013 02:10 PM PST Reclamation released the Lower Rio Grande Basin Study that evaluated the impacts of climate change on water demand and supply imbalances along the Rio Grande from Fort Quitman, Tex., to the Gulf of Mexico. As a result of climate change, a projected 86,438 acre-feet of water per year will need to be added to the 592,084 acre-feet per year of supply shortfall predicted in the existing regional planning process in 2060.

Importance of food as key provider of vitamins and nutrients Posted: 17 Dec 2013 02:08 PM PST While dietary supplements can help some people meet their nutrition needs, eating a wide variety of nutrient-rich foods is the best way for most people to obtain the nutrients they need to be healthy and reduce their risk of chronic disease, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

A roly-poly pika gathers much moss: High-fiber salad bar may help lagomorphs survive climate change Posted: 17 Dec 2013 02:08 PM PST In some mountain ranges, Earth's warming climate is driving rabbit relatives known as pikas to higher elevations or wiping them out. But biologists discovered that roly-poly pikas living in rockslides near sea level in Oregon can survive hot weather by eating more moss than any other mammal.

DNA motor 'walks' along nanotube, transports tiny particle Posted: 17 Dec 2013 12:53 PM PST Researchers have created a new type of molecular motor made of DNA and demonstrated its potential by using it to transport a nanoparticle along the length of a carbon nanotube.

Hack the planet? Geoengineering research, ethics, governance explored Posted: 17 Dec 2013 12:53 PM PST Experts have described the proposed Oxford Principles to govern geoengineering research and surveyed the technical hurdles, ethics and regulatory issues related to deliberately manipulating the planet's climate.

Significant advance reported with genetically modified poplar trees Posted: 17 Dec 2013 10:47 AM PST Forest geneticists have created genetically modified poplar trees that grow faster, have resistance to insect pests and are able to retain expression of the inserted genes for at least 14 years, a report has just announced.

Exposing the roots of the lithium battery problem Posted: 17 Dec 2013 10:47 AM PST Researchers have discovered that the dendrite problem that can cause lithium-ion batteries to short-circuit, overheat and possibly catch fire originates below the surface of the lithium electrode and not at the surface as has been widely believed.

Researchers develop advanced 3D 'force microscope' Posted: 17 Dec 2013 10:47 AM PST Researchers have developed a three-dimensional microscope that will yield unparalleled study of membrane proteins and how they interact on the cellular level. These microscopes could help pharmaceutical companies bring drugs to market faster.

Study finds known lung cancer oncogenes also drive colorectal cancer Posted: 17 Dec 2013 10:40 AM PST A study shows that ALK and ROS1 gene rearrangements known to drive subsets of lung cancer are also present in some colorectal cancers. These results imply that drugs used to target ALK and ROS1 in lung cancer may also have applications in this subset of colorectal cancer patients.

Economic impact of oil and natural gas in West Texas Posted: 17 Dec 2013 09:40 AM PST Development of oil and natural gas in a 16-county region of West Texas added more than $14.5 billion in total economic impact during 2012, according to a new study.

Rainforest rodents risk their lives to eat Posted: 17 Dec 2013 09:40 AM PST Hungry rodents that wake up early are much more likely to be eaten by ocelots than rodents getting plenty of food and shut-eye, according to new results.

Changes in proteins may predict ALS progression Posted: 17 Dec 2013 09:40 AM PST Measuring changes in certain proteins -- called biomarkers -- in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis may better predict the progression of the disease, according to scientists.

New system of assessments needed when next generation science standards are implemented, report says Posted: 17 Dec 2013 09:40 AM PST New types of assessments will be needed to measure student learning once the Next Generation Science Standards are implemented, says a new report from the National Research Council.

Home-making post-disaster Posted: 17 Dec 2013 09:40 AM PST When it comes time to rebuild, victims of home-destruction are often given only the bare essentials and told to make do. That is nowhere near enough says recent Concordia University doctoral graduate, Devora Neumark. In a new paper published in Housing, Theory and Society she argues that a powerful way to overcome the traumas associated with domicide and reconstitute a sense of home is to engage in house-beautification practices.

Never forget a face: New algorithm uses subtle changes to make a face more memorable without changing a person's overall appearance Posted: 17 Dec 2013 09:39 AM PST A new algorithm uses subtle changes to make a face more memorable without changing a person's overall appearance.

Targeted synthesis of natural products with light Posted: 17 Dec 2013 09:39 AM PST Photoreactions are essential for the syntheses of many natural substances. Since many of these substances are also useful as active medical agents, chemists try to produce them synthetically. But in most cases only one of the possible products has the right spatial structure to make it effective. Researchers have now developed a methodology for one of these photoreactions that allows them to produce only the specific molecular variant desired.

Economically valuable sweet-gum trees: Taxonomy and nine new combinations Posted: 17 Dec 2013 09:39 AM PST Trees in the sweet-gum family Altingiaceae are well-known for their quality timber, use as ornamentals, the source of styrax, and from Chinese medicine. The three previously recognized genera Liquidambar, Altingia and Semiliquidambar have been puzzling botanists for a while due to the morphological similarities between the different genera, which makes their separation and description a challenge. A new taxonomic synopsis provides a new analysis including nine new combinations.

Uranium (IV) found to be mobile in a natural wetland Posted: 17 Dec 2013 09:39 AM PST Researchers studying a natural wetland near a decommissioned uranium mine in Limousin, France, have shown that under certain circumstances the uranium present in the wetland could be more mobile than previously believed.

Overworked cellular machines may explain Gaucher disease link to Parkinson's disease Posted: 17 Dec 2013 09:38 AM PST Research with fruit fly model suggests that Gaucher disease (GD) is related to Parkinson's disease (PD) through biological pathways triggered by accumulated defective proteins related to GD. Accumulation, due to overworked cellular machines responsible for degrading defective proteins, triggers cascade that leads to the death of dopamine-producing cells that causes PD.

Bonobos stay young longer: Unlike humans and chimpanzees, bonobos retain elevated thyroid hormones well into adulthood Posted: 17 Dec 2013 09:38 AM PST Despite the fact that chimpanzees and bonobos share similar starting conditions at birth, they develop different behavioral patterns later in life. These differences might be caused by different hormone levels.

Researchers discover mechanism controlling development of myelodysplastic syndromes Posted: 17 Dec 2013 09:38 AM PST Researchers have discovered a control mechanism that can trigger the development of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a group of blood cancers. This finding may lead to therapies capable of preventing the progression of these diseases.

Study indicates oral garlic not useful in treating vaginal thrush Posted: 17 Dec 2013 07:46 AM PST In a world-first study, researchers have found garlic does not significantly reduce vaginal candida (thrush).

Study: Pay kids to eat fruits, vegetables Posted: 17 Dec 2013 07:46 AM PST Researchers observed three schools adjust to new school lunch standards that require a serving of fruits or vegetables on every student's tray -- whether the child intends to eat it or not. Students discarded 70 percent of the extra fruits and vegetables -- wasting about $3.8 million each day.

Fungal pathogen shows profound effects from spaceflight Posted: 17 Dec 2013 07:45 AM PST In a new study, the first global gene expression profiling and phenotypic characterization of a fungal pathogen during spaceflight is revealed.

Sharpening focus in quantum photolithography Posted: 17 Dec 2013 07:44 AM PST Photolithography uses light beams to design thin geometric patterns on the substrates of semiconductors used in microelectronic devices. This is achieved using a chemical reaction on a light-sensitive chemical, called photoresist. The trouble is that the phenomenon of light diffraction does not permit highly accurate patterns. Now, a scientist has developed a quantum lithography protocol designed to improve the resolution of this technology.

Brain neurons subtract images, use differences Posted: 17 Dec 2013 07:42 AM PST Ten million bits -- that's the information volume transmitted every second with every quick eye movement from the eye to the cerebrum. Researchers describe the way those data are processed by the primary visual cortex, the entry point for the visual information into the brain. Deploying novel optical imaging methods, they demonstrated that the brain does not always transmit the entire image information. Rather, it uses the differences between current and previously viewed images.

Research backs risk-reduction surgery for ovarian cancer Posted: 17 Dec 2013 07:42 AM PST A study backs preventative surgery to improve survival for women who are at greater risk of getting ovarian cancer and suggests it appears helpful for women at risk of getting breast cancer because of genetic faults.

Infrared sheds light on single protein complexes Posted: 17 Dec 2013 07:42 AM PST Nanoscience researchers employ nano-FTIR spectroscopy for label-free chemical and structural imaging of proteins with nanoscale spatial resolution and with sensitivity to single protein complexes of less than one attogram (10-18 gram), and discuss these results in a recently published article.

Radioactivity muddles alphabet of DNA Posted: 17 Dec 2013 07:42 AM PST Researchers have shown natural radioactivity within DNA can alter chemical compounds, providing a new pathway for genetic mutation. The research for the first time looked at natural radioactivity within human DNA on the atomic-scale. While radioactivity occurs naturally in our bodies as well as in every living organism across the planet, it was never before thought to affect our DNA in such a direct way.

Discovery of 'teen gene' could hold promise for combating severe mental illnesses Posted: 17 Dec 2013 07:42 AM PST Researchers have isolated a gene, DCC, which is responsible for dopamine connectivity in the medial prefrontal cortex during adolescence. Working with mice models, they have shown that dysfunction of this gene during adolescence has behavioral consequences which carry into adulthood.

Astronomers develop software for the Gaia satellite Posted: 17 Dec 2013 07:41 AM PST Scientists have developed highly complex software for the Gaia astrometry satellite. Daily for five years, the software will track in detail the correct functioning of all on-board systems as well as the quality of the raw scientific data. The launch of Gaia will take place on 19 December 2013 at the spaceport at Kourou in French Guiana. From a distance of 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, the satellite will map the stars of our Milky Way with unprecedented precision.

Epidemic of escherichia coli infections traced to one strain of bacteria Posted: 17 Dec 2013 07:41 AM PST In the past decade, a single strain of Escherichia coli, or E. coli, has become the main cause of bacterial infections in women and the elderly by invading the bladder and kidneys, according to a new study.

Hubble watches super star create holiday light show Posted: 17 Dec 2013 07:40 AM PST This festive NASA Hubble Space Telescope image resembles a holiday wreath made of sparkling lights. The bright southern hemisphere star RS Puppis, at the center of the image, is swaddled in a gossamer cocoon of reflective dust illuminated by the glittering star. Hubble took a series of photos of light flashes rippling across the nebula in a phenomenon known as a "light echo."

Researchers show genetic overlap in schizophrenia, cognitive ability Posted: 17 Dec 2013 05:53 AM PST Investigators have discovered, for the first time, a direct evidence of a genetic overlap between schizophrenia and general cognitive ability.

Pain drugs used in prostate gland removal linked to cancer outcome, study finds Posted: 17 Dec 2013 05:53 AM PST The methods used to anesthetize prostate cancer patients and control pain when their prostate glands are surgically removed for adenocarcinoma may affect their long-term cancer outcomes, a study found.

Smoking changes our genes Posted: 17 Dec 2013 05:52 AM PST We inherit our genes from our parents at birth. Later in life the genetic material can be changed by epigenetic modifications, i.e. chemical alterations of the DNA the affect the activity of the genes. Such alterations are normally caused by aging, but can also result from environmental factors and lifestyle. New research findings show that smoking alters several genes that can be associated with health problems for smokers, such as increased risk for cancer and diabetes.

New control pathways in synthesis of plant chemical defences Posted: 17 Dec 2013 05:52 AM PST A scientific study reveals a new mechanism to control saponin biosynthesis. Saponins are essential in the adaptation of many plants to the environment and have high biomedical and industrial interest.

Drug residues in Swedish sewage water Posted: 17 Dec 2013 05:52 AM PST Chemists in Sweden have been able to trace narcotics substances and prescription drugs in measurements of wastewater from 33 Swedish sewage treatment plants. Cocaine, amphetamine, and methamphetamine, in measurable concentrations, were found in a total of half of the locations.

Experts to image event horizon of black hole Posted: 17 Dec 2013 05:51 AM PST Was Einstein right? A team of scientists will test the predictions of current theories of gravity, including Einstein's theory of General Relativity. The funding is provided in the form of a 'Synergy Grant', the largest and most competitive type of grant of the ERC.

Infrared sheds light on single protein complexes Posted: 17 Dec 2013 05:51 AM PST Researchers have used spectroscopy for label-free chemical and structural imaging of proteins with nanoscale spatial resolution and with sensitivity to single protein complexes of less than one attogram (10-18 gram).

Self-worth boosts ability to overcome poverty Posted: 17 Dec 2013 05:50 AM PST For people in poverty, remembering better times – such as past success – improves brain functioning by several IQ points and increases their willingness to seek help from crucial aid services, a new study finds.

Massive stars mark out Milky Way's 'missing arms' Posted: 17 Dec 2013 05:50 AM PST A 12-year study of massive stars has reaffirmed that our Galaxy has four spiral arms, following years of debate sparked by images taken by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope that only showed two arms.

Ancestor of snakes, lizards likely gave birth to live young Posted: 17 Dec 2013 05:49 AM PST The ancestor of snakes and lizards likely gave birth to live young, rather than laid eggs, and over time species have switched back and forth in their preferred reproductive mode, according to new research.

Poor owner knowledge of cat sex life linked to 850,000 unplanned kittens every year Posted: 16 Dec 2013 05:40 PM PST Widespread ignorance among cat-owners about the sex lives of their pets may be leading to more than 200,000 unplanned litters -- or more than 850,000 kittens every year in the UK, finds research.

Ear acupuncture can help shed pounds Posted: 16 Dec 2013 05:40 PM PST Ear acupuncture can help shed the pounds, indicates a small study, recently published.

Study analyzes diabetes drug metformin as obesity treatment for children Posted: 16 Dec 2013 03:38 PM PST Treatment with the diabetes drug metformin appears to be associated with a modest reduction in body mass index in obese children when combined with lifestyle interventions such as diet and exercise.

Antihypertensives associated with lower dialysis risk for patients with advanced CKD Posted: 16 Dec 2013 03:38 PM PST Patients with stable hypertension and the most advanced stage of chronic kidney disease before dialysis appeared to have a lower risk for long-term dialysis or death if they were treated with the antihypertensive drugs known as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers, according to a study published.

Physicians who prefer hospice care for themselves more likely to discuss it with patients Posted: 16 Dec 2013 03:38 PM PST Although the vast majority of physicians participating in a multiregional study indicated that they would personally enroll in hospice care if they received a terminal cancer diagnosis, less than one-third would discuss hospice care early in the course of treating a terminally ill cancer patient.

Teaching residents to provide cost-conscious care Posted: 16 Dec 2013 03:38 PM PST Despite a national consensus among policy makers and educators to train residents to be more conscious of the cost of care, less than 15 percent of internal medicine residency programs have a formal curriculum addressing it.

Regenerative medicine: New tool for transplanting stem cells Posted: 16 Dec 2013 03:36 PM PST Researchers have developed a specialized catheter for transplanting stem cells into the beating heart. The novel device includes a curved needle and graded openings along the needle shaft, allowing for increased distribution of cells. The result is maximized retention of stem cells to repair the heart.

CEOs tend to overstay their welcome, hurting firm performance, new study finds Posted: 16 Dec 2013 03:36 PM PST The longer CEOs stay in power – and a new study suggests most of them do, exceeding the optimal tenure length by about three years – the more likely chief executives are to limit outside sources of market and customer information, ultimately hurting firm performance.

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