ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Van Allen Probes shed light on decades-old mystery
• Why it snows so much in the frozen north
• Assumption about mercury in the Arctic overturned
• Religion is good for business, shows study
• Researchers grow liquid crystal 'flowers' that can be used as lenses
• Wrong molecular turn leads down path to Type 2 diabetes
• Researchers find potential new treatment approach for pancreatic cancer
• Starless cloud cores reveal why some stars are bigger than others
• Possible link between cognitive depressive symptoms, antiretroviral therapy uptake
• 91 new species described by California Academy Of Sciences in 2013
• Key drug receptor: Atom-level simulation of a G protein-coupled receptor could lead to improved drug design
• Concussion tests' marketing outpaces scientific evidence, new review says
• Early detection of blinding eye disease could be as easy as scanning barcode
• Increasing personal savings, 'Groundhog Day' way
• A gluttonous plant reveals how its cellular power plant devours foreign DNA
• Birth of black hole kills the radio star
• Essential factor for Lyme disease transmission identified
• Inadequate pregnancy weight gain a risk factor for infant mortality
• Anxiety linked to higher long-term risk of stroke
• Saving dollars while helping babies
• Study examines treatment responses in TMD patients
• Lactation consultant visits spur breastfeeding among women who usually resist it
• More than half of consumers will choose health-care plan that costs too much, study predicts
• H. pylori vaccine shows promise in mouse studies
• TB bacteria mask their identity to intrude into deeper regions of lungs
• Greek economic crisis leads to air pollution crisis
• Opposing phenomena possible key to high-efficiency electricity delivery
• Scientists discover how immune cells die during HIV infection; Identify potential drug to block AIDS
• Cocaine, meth response differ between two substrains of lab mice
• How cells remodel after UV radiation
• Pharmacy staff frequently misinform teens seeking emergency contraception, study suggests
• Cost of antibiotic drugs for children: Comparison of two countries

Van Allen Probes shed light on decades-old mystery Posted: 20 Dec 2013 05:07 PM PST New research using data from NASA's Van Allen Probes mission helps resolve decades of scientific uncertainty over the origin of ultra-relativistic electrons in Earth's near space environment, and is likely to influence our understanding of planetary magnetospheres throughout the universe.

Why it snows so much in the frozen north Posted: 20 Dec 2013 05:06 PM PST Scientists have long puzzled over the seemingly ceaseless drizzle of snow drifting down from arctic clouds. Now they may have an explanation.

Assumption about mercury in the Arctic overturned Posted: 20 Dec 2013 05:06 PM PST A team of scientists from the U.S., Russia, and Canada has compared fish from two Russian rivers, the Lena and the Mezen, and found mercury concentrations to be much lower than expected.

Religion is good for business, shows study Posted: 20 Dec 2013 12:45 PM PST Those looking for honest companies to invest in might want to check out businesses based in more religious communities, suggests a new paper. The study found that businesses with head offices in places with high levels of "religiosity" were less likely to experience stock price crashes as a result of not disclosing bad financial news.

Researchers grow liquid crystal 'flowers' that can be used as lenses Posted: 20 Dec 2013 12:45 PM PST A team of material scientists, chemical engineers and physicists has made another advance in their effort to use liquid crystals as a medium for assembling structures. Their earlier studies produced patterns of "defects," useful disruptions in the repeating patterns found in liquid crystals, in nanoscale grids and rings. The new study adds a more complex pattern out of an even simpler template: a three-dimensional array shaped like a flower.

Wrong molecular turn leads down path to Type 2 diabetes Posted: 20 Dec 2013 11:35 AM PST Computing resources have helped researchers better grasp how proteins misfold to create the tissue-damaging structures that lead to type 2 diabetes. The structures, called amyloid fibrils, are also implicated in neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, and in prion diseases like Creutzfeldt-Jacob and mad cow disease.

Researchers find potential new treatment approach for pancreatic cancer Posted: 20 Dec 2013 11:35 AM PST Scientists believe they have discovered a new way to make chemotherapy treatment more effective for pancreatic cancer patients. Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive cancer with poor prognosis and limited treatment options and is highly resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Starless cloud cores reveal why some stars are bigger than others Posted: 20 Dec 2013 11:35 AM PST Massive stars -- those at least 8 times the mass of our Sun -- present an intriguing mystery: how do they grow so large when the vast majority of stars in the Milky Way are considerably smaller? Massive stars -- those at least 8 times the mass of our Sun -- present an intriguing mystery: how do they grow so large when the vast majority of stars in the Milky Way are considerably smaller? To find the answer, astronomers used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array telescope to survey the cores of some of the darkest, coldest, and densest clouds in our Galaxy to search for the telltale signs of star formation.

Possible link between cognitive depressive symptoms, antiretroviral therapy uptake Posted: 20 Dec 2013 11:32 AM PST Researchers found that among HIV-infected Russian drinkers, depressive symptom severity alone was not significantly associated with lower rates of antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation. However, when examining cognitive symptoms of depression, results showed that high levels of depressive symptoms may be associated with delayed ART initiation.

91 new species described by California Academy Of Sciences in 2013 Posted: 20 Dec 2013 09:10 AM PST In 2013, researchers at the California Academy of Sciences discovered 91 new plant and animal species and two new genera, enriching our understanding of the complex web of life on Earth and strengthening our ability to make informed conservation decisions. The new species, previously unknown to science, include 38 different ants, 12 fishes, 14 plants, eight beetles, two spiders, one reptile, and one amphibian.

Key drug receptor: Atom-level simulation of a G protein-coupled receptor could lead to improved drug design Posted: 20 Dec 2013 09:10 AM PST The successful atom-level simulation of a G protein-coupled receptor could lead to improved drug design, blazing the path for specialized scientific projects on cloud computer systems.

Concussion tests' marketing outpaces scientific evidence, new review says Posted: 20 Dec 2013 09:10 AM PST Computerized neurocognitive testing for concussions is widely used in amateur and professional sports, but little research over the past decade proves its effectiveness, a paper published this month says. The review updates a 2005 look at the available research on computerized neurocognitive testing. The authors still urge caution with their use and point out a need for more peer-reviewed studies.

Early detection of blinding eye disease could be as easy as scanning barcode Posted: 20 Dec 2013 09:08 AM PST A new optical device puts the power to detect eye disease in the palm of a hand. The tool -- about the size of a hand-held video camera -- scans a patient's entire retina in seconds and could aid primary care physicians in the early detection of a host of retinal diseases including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Increasing personal savings, 'Groundhog Day' way Posted: 20 Dec 2013 08:58 AM PST Thinking about time as a cycle of recurring experiences -- a reality Bill Murray's character knows all too well in the movie Groundhog Day -- may help us to put more money away into our savings, according to new research.

A gluttonous plant reveals how its cellular power plant devours foreign DNA Posted: 20 Dec 2013 08:57 AM PST Researchers have determined an epic expansion of a plant's mitochondrial genome via of horizontal gene transfer, acquiring six genome equivalents of foreign DNA. It is the first time that an organelle has captured entire "foreign" genomes, those from other organisms, and the first description of a land plant acquiring genes from green algae.

Birth of black hole kills the radio star Posted: 20 Dec 2013 08:40 AM PST Astronomers have discovered a new population of exploding stars that "switch off" their radio transmissions before collapsing into a Black Hole. These exploding stars use all of their energy to emit one last strong beam of highly energetic radiation -- known as a gamma-ray burst -- before they die.

Essential factor for Lyme disease transmission identified Posted: 19 Dec 2013 05:00 PM PST Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, hitchhikes in ticks for dissemination to mammalian hosts -- including humans. A new article identifies HrpA, an RNA helicase, as a crucial player in the transmission from ticks to mammals. Scientists have analyzed the molecular function of the HrpA protein and explored its role in the bacterium's complicated life cycle, in particular for transmission of the pathogen.

Inadequate pregnancy weight gain a risk factor for infant mortality Posted: 19 Dec 2013 01:29 PM PST Women who do not gain enough weight during pregnancy are at increased risk of losing their baby in its first year of life, according to a new study. Gaining more weight than recommended was not a risk factor for infant mortality, but may be related to subsequent maternal health problems. Study authors urge that childbearing women have pregnancy weight gain goals specific to their BMI.

Anxiety linked to higher long-term risk of stroke Posted: 19 Dec 2013 01:29 PM PST A new study is the first study to link anxiety to a greater risk of stroke.

Saving dollars while helping babies Posted: 19 Dec 2013 01:29 PM PST Amid soaring health-care costs, nurse home visits can save health dollars while helping families, says a study. For every $1 spent on nurse home visits for newborns, $3 were saved in health expenditures. Program participants had 59 percent fewer emergency care episodes, safer home environments and lower rates of maternal anxiety.

Study examines treatment responses in TMD patients Posted: 19 Dec 2013 01:25 PM PST Tempromandibular pain disorders (TMDs) are characterized by a dysfunction of the TMD joint and cause orofacial pain, masticatory dysfunction or both. A new study showed that standard treatment approaches yield modest to large improvement in pain, but the addition of cognitive behavioral therapy may be helpful.

Lactation consultant visits spur breastfeeding among women who usually resist it Posted: 19 Dec 2013 01:25 PM PST In two separate clinical trials, researchers have found that periodic meetings with a lactation consultant encourages women traditionally resistant to breastfeeding to do so, at least for a few months — long enough for mother and child to gain health benefits.

More than half of consumers will choose health-care plan that costs too much, study predicts Posted: 19 Dec 2013 12:45 PM PST Tens of millions of consumers are expected to sign up for healthcare via the new health insurance exchanges set up by the federal and state governments. Using simulated exchanges modeled on the design of the actual exchanges, alarming new research suggests that more than 80 percent of consumers may be unable to make a clear-eyed estimate of their needs and will unknowingly choose a higher cost plan than needed.

H. pylori vaccine shows promise in mouse studies Posted: 19 Dec 2013 11:23 AM PST Researchers have developed an oral vaccine against Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria responsible for peptic ulcers and some forms of gastric cancer, and have successfully tested it in mice.

TB bacteria mask their identity to intrude into deeper regions of lungs Posted: 19 Dec 2013 11:23 AM PST TB-causing bacteria appear to mask their identity to avoid recognition by infection-killing cells in the well-patrolled upper airways. The bacteria call up more permissive white blood cells in the deeper regions of the lungs and hitch a ride inside them to get into parts of the host's lungs that are under less surveillance.

Greek economic crisis leads to air pollution crisis Posted: 19 Dec 2013 11:23 AM PST A spike in fuel prices has led to Greek residents burning more wood to keep warm -- with significant negative impacts on air quality.

Opposing phenomena possible key to high-efficiency electricity delivery Posted: 19 Dec 2013 11:23 AM PST Researchers report that the coexistence of two opposing phenomena might be the secret to understanding how materials known as high-temperature superconductors -- heralded as the future of powering our homes and communities -- actually work. Such insight could help spur the further development of high-efficiency electric-power delivery.

Scientists discover how immune cells die during HIV infection; Identify potential drug to block AIDS Posted: 19 Dec 2013 11:22 AM PST Research has identified the chain of molecular events that drives the death of the immune system's CD4 T cells as an HIV infection leads to AIDS. Further, they have identified an existing anti-inflammatory drug that blocks the death of these cells -- and now are planning a Phase 2 clinical trial to determine if it can prevent HIV-infected people from developing AIDS.

Cocaine, meth response differ between two substrains of lab mice Posted: 19 Dec 2013 11:22 AM PST Researchers have found a single nucleotide polymorphism difference in cocaine and methamphetamine response between two substrains of the C57BL/6 or "Black 6" inbred laboratory mouse, pointing to Cyfip2 as a regulator of cocaine response with a possible role in addiction.

How cells remodel after UV radiation Posted: 19 Dec 2013 11:21 AM PST Researchers have produced the first map detailing the network of genetic interactions underlying the cellular response to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Pharmacy staff frequently misinform teens seeking emergency contraception, study suggests Posted: 19 Dec 2013 11:21 AM PST A new study finds that pharmacy staff frequently give teens misleading or incorrect information about emergency contraception that may prevent them from getting the medication.

Cost of antibiotic drugs for children: Comparison of two countries Posted: 19 Dec 2013 10:44 AM PST The 2009 costs of antibiotics covered by private insurance companies in the U.S. for children younger than 10 years old were estimated to be more than five times higher than the costs in the United Kingdom, which are covered by a government universal health plan.

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