ScienceDaily: Top News

• Toxic mercury in aquatic life could spike with greater land runoff
• A wolf's stowaways
• Scientists find brain hormone that triggers fat burning
• Finding credibility clues on Twitter
• Challenging traditional theories on organisms' 'range expansion'
• New techniques allow greater control of smartwatches
• New survey finds many Americans want changes to ACA but few support immediate repeal
• Research suggests way to improve stroke treatments
• Absorbing electromagnetic energy while avoiding the heat
• New review of medicinal compounds in toad secretions compiled
• For immigrant mothers delivering 'the talk,' facts trump culture
• Boron atoms stretch out, gain new powers
• Artificial intelligence uncovers new insight into biophysics of cancer
• Roots of Alzheimer's disease can extend as far back as the womb
• 'Survival gene' stops strains of TB mutating into deadly 'superbugs'
• Rapid trait evolution crucial to species growth
• Chronic sleep deprivation suppresses immune system
• Safe uti­li­za­tion of die­ta­ry su­gars requi­res dy­na­mic cont­rol of re­dox ba­lance
• Why people are so good at spotting product downsizing and so bad at judging supersizing
• Nanoparticles hitchhiking their way along strands of hair
• Dogs share food with other dogs even in complex situations
• Impact of genetics on human height is not increasing
• Anthropologists uncover art by (really) old masters
• NASA studies cosmic radiation to protect high-altitude travelers
• New 'needle-pulse' beam pattern packs a punch
• Star birth with a chance of Winds?
• The link between growth of retail-based clinics, nurse practitioner scope-of-practice reform
• Scientist uncovers physics behind plasma-etching process
• Oral devices reduce sleep apnea but may not affect heart disease risk factors
• Stem cell secretions may protect against glaucoma
• Single-molecule technique to explain thermodynamic behavior of complex biomolecular systems
• Physics: Toward a practical nuclear pendulum
• Examining women's bones during menopause may help head off fractures
• Andean bear survey in Peru finds humans not the only visitors to Machu Picchu
• How the border guards fail in HIV infection
• Gene key for chemically reprogramming human stem cells
• What patients say and what doctors document
• Feed a cold, starve a fever? Not so fast, study suggests
• Premature babies don't use sensory-prediction brain process that may be key to development

Toxic mercury in aquatic life could spike with greater land runoff Posted: 27 Jan 2017 11:26 AM PST A highly toxic form of mercury could jump by 300 to 600 percent in zooplankton – tiny animals at the base of the marine food chain – if land runoff increases by 15 to 30 percent, according to a new study. And such an increase is possible due to climate change, according to a new pioneering study.

A wolf's stowaways Posted: 27 Jan 2017 11:24 AM PST Since the year 2000, the Eurasian grey wolf, Canis lupus lupus, has spread across Germany. For researchers, a good reason to have a closer look at the small “occupants” of this returnee and to ask the question whether the number and species of parasites change with an increasing wolf population. This was the case, because the number of parasite species per individual wolf increased as the wolf population expanded. Furthermore, cubs had a higher diversity of parasite species than older animals. The good news: wolf parasites do not pose a threat to human health.

Scientists find brain hormone that triggers fat burning Posted: 27 Jan 2017 11:24 AM PST Biologists have identified a brain hormone that appears to trigger fat burning in the gut. Their findings in animal models could have implications for future pharmaceutical development.

Finding credibility clues on Twitter Posted: 27 Jan 2017 10:13 AM PST By scanning 66 million tweets linked to nearly 1,400 real-world events, researchers have built a language model that identifies words and phrases that lead to strong or weak perceived levels of credibility on Twitter. Their findings suggest that the words of millions of people on social media have considerable information about an event's credibility -- even when an event is still ongoing.

Challenging traditional theories on organisms' 'range expansion' Posted: 27 Jan 2017 10:13 AM PST As climate change and biological invasions continue to impact global biodiversity, scientists suggest that the way organisms move to new areas, called range expansion, can be impacted directly by evolutionary changes.

New techniques allow greater control of smartwatches Posted: 27 Jan 2017 10:12 AM PST Researchers have invented new ways to interact that provide a little more control, including taps of the skin, nudges on the side of the watch and breathing on the screen.

New survey finds many Americans want changes to ACA but few support immediate repeal Posted: 27 Jan 2017 10:12 AM PST According to a new national survey on Americans' opinions on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 12 percent of Americans want the ACA kept in its current form, 40 percent say it should be preserved with improvements, 16 percent say the law should be repealed immediately, and 31 percent want a repeal to wait until a replacement is ready.

Research suggests way to improve stroke treatments Posted: 27 Jan 2017 10:12 AM PST Working with animal models, researchers now have demonstrated the potential of giving a drug in combination with tPA that might improve stroke outcomes and increase the window of opportunity for the therapy.

Absorbing electromagnetic energy while avoiding the heat Posted: 27 Jan 2017 10:12 AM PST Electrical engineers have created the world's first structured metamaterial made without metal that can absorb electromagnetic energy. The advance has direct applications in imaging, sensing and lighting.

New review of medicinal compounds in toad secretions compiled Posted: 27 Jan 2017 08:30 AM PST The cane toad, which overran Australia when introduced there, and Panama's iconic, endangered golden frog both belong to the family Bufonidae. Researchers combed through many research papers to compile all of the known chemicals produced by members of this amphibian family well known to practitioners of folk medicine. This is a first step toward the identification of new pharmaceuticals from amphibians at a time when human diseases are becoming alarmingly antibiotic resistant.

For immigrant mothers delivering 'the talk,' facts trump culture Posted: 27 Jan 2017 08:30 AM PST Where a shift in cultural behaviors and beliefs typically takes three generations, new research has found that among African immigrant mothers, cultural views regarding sex are rarely passed down to their children, indicating change after a single generation.

Boron atoms stretch out, gain new powers Posted: 27 Jan 2017 08:30 AM PST Ribbons and single-atom chains of boron would have unique physical and electronic properties, according to theoretical physicists.

Artificial intelligence uncovers new insight into biophysics of cancer Posted: 27 Jan 2017 08:30 AM PST For the first time, artificial intelligence has been used to discover the exact interventions needed to obtain a specific, previously unachievable result in vivo, providing new insight into the biophysics of cancer and raising broad implications for biomedicine.

Roots of Alzheimer's disease can extend as far back as the womb Posted: 27 Jan 2017 08:30 AM PST Biochemical reactions that cause Alzheimer's disease could begin in the womb or just after birth if the fetus or newborn does not get enough vitamin A, according to new research. These new findings, based on studies of genetically-engineered mice, also demonstrate that supplements given to newborns with low levels of vitamin A could be effective in slowing the degenerative brain disease.

'Survival gene' stops strains of TB mutating into deadly 'superbugs' Posted: 27 Jan 2017 08:30 AM PST A newly found 'survival gene' stops strains of TB mutating into deadly 'superbugs,' outlines a new report. The discovery of a gene called NucS that dramatically reduces mutation rates in mycobacteria -- the infectious microbe which causes tuberculosis (TB).

Rapid trait evolution crucial to species growth Posted: 27 Jan 2017 08:30 AM PST Rapid evolution at the edges of a given species habitat may play a larger role in population expansions than previously suspected, according to the results of a new study.

Chronic sleep deprivation suppresses immune system Posted: 27 Jan 2017 08:30 AM PST Many people report getting sick when they don't get enough sleep. A new study helps explain why. Researchers took blood samples from 11 pairs of identical twins with different sleep patterns and discovered that the twin with shorter sleep duration had a depressed immune system, compared with his or her sibling.

Safe uti­li­za­tion of die­ta­ry su­gars requi­res dy­na­mic cont­rol of re­dox ba­lance Posted: 27 Jan 2017 08:30 AM PST Without dynamic control of redox balance animals lose their ability to survive on sugar-rich food. The regulatory system to control redox balance involves sugar-dependent gene regulation and protein phosphorylation.

Why people are so good at spotting product downsizing and so bad at judging supersizing Posted: 27 Jan 2017 08:30 AM PST Consumers drastically underestimate portion supersizing but are incredibly accurate at spotting downsizing, making it difficult for food marketers to cut giant portions. But there is a way to make customers more receptive to smaller portions, say authors of a new report.

Nanoparticles hitchhiking their way along strands of hair Posted: 27 Jan 2017 08:30 AM PST In shampoo ads, hair always looks like a shiny, smooth surface. But for physicists peering into microscopes, the hair surface looks much more rugged, as it is made of saw-tooth, ratchet-like scales. In a new theoretical study scientists have demonstrated that massaging hair can help to apply drug treatment -- encapsulated in nanoparticles trapped in the channels formed around individual hairs -- to the hair roots.

Dogs share food with other dogs even in complex situations Posted: 27 Jan 2017 08:29 AM PST Dogs also share their food, albeit mainly with four-legged friends rather than strangers. A new study has now confirmed this prosocial behavior among canines. The more complex methodology of the study, however, showed that the experimental set-up has an impact on the dogs' behavior and that even the mere presence of another dog makes the animals more generous.

Impact of genetics on human height is not increasing Posted: 27 Jan 2017 08:29 AM PST The relative impact of genetics on height does not increase with improvements to the standard of living. These are the findings of an international research group that analyzed the impact of genetic and environmental factors on adult height over a span of more than a century. The research material comprised 40 twin cohorts, including more than 143,000 twin pairs from 20 countries.

Anthropologists uncover art by (really) old masters Posted: 27 Jan 2017 08:29 AM PST An international team of anthropologists has uncovered a 38,000-year-old engraved image in a southwestern French rockshelter -- a finding that marks some of the earliest known graphic imagery found in Western Eurasia and offers insights into the nature of modern humans during this period.

NASA studies cosmic radiation to protect high-altitude travelers Posted: 27 Jan 2017 08:29 AM PST NASA scientists studying high-altitude radiation recently published new results on the effects of cosmic radiation in our atmosphere to help improve real-time radiation monitoring for aviation industry crew and passengers.

New 'needle-pulse' beam pattern packs a punch Posted: 27 Jan 2017 08:29 AM PST A new beam pattern could bring unprecedented sharpness to ultrasound and radar images, burn precise holes in manufactured materials at a nano scale -- even etch new properties onto their surfaces.

Star birth with a chance of Winds? Posted: 27 Jan 2017 08:29 AM PST The lesser-known constellation of Canes Venatici (The Hunting Dogs), is home to a variety of deep-sky objects -- including this beautiful galaxy, known as NGC 4861. Astronomers are still debating on how to classify it. While its physical properties -- such as mass, size and rotational velocity -- indicate it to be a spiral galaxy, its appearance looks more like a comet with its dense, luminous 'head' and dimmer 'tail' trailing off. Features more fitting with a dwarf irregular galaxy.

The link between growth of retail-based clinics, nurse practitioner scope-of-practice reform Posted: 27 Jan 2017 08:29 AM PST Just as primary care provider shortages are becoming acute, retail-based clinics in pharmacies and grocery stores are set to fill the gap in accessible patient care. Yet in some states, access to this convenient care is constrained due to restrictive scope-of-practice laws.

Scientist uncovers physics behind plasma-etching process Posted: 27 Jan 2017 08:29 AM PST A team of physicists has uncovered some of the physics that make possible the etching of silicon computer chips, which power cell phones, computers, and a huge range of electronic devices.

Oral devices reduce sleep apnea but may not affect heart disease risk factors Posted: 27 Jan 2017 08:28 AM PST In patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), oral appliances that treat the condition by moving the lower jaw forward appear to improve sleep but not reduce key risk factors for developing heart and other cardiovascular disease, according to new research.

Stem cell secretions may protect against glaucoma Posted: 27 Jan 2017 08:28 AM PST Stem cell secretions, called exosomes, appear to protect cells in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye, a new study in rats shows. The findings point to potential therapies for glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness in the United States.

Single-molecule technique to explain thermodynamic behavior of complex biomolecular systems Posted: 27 Jan 2017 06:02 AM PST Most thermodynamic measurements of binding reactions rely on the validity of the law of mass action and the assumption of a dilute solution. Yet, important biological systems such as allosteric ligand-receptor binding, macromolecular crowding, or misfolded molecules may not fulfill these assumptions and may require a particular reaction model. A new article reports that researchers have determined thermodynamic properties in biomolecular complex systems such as binding energies, chemical selectivity, and allostery of nucleic acids and peptides in a model-independent way.

Physics: Toward a practical nuclear pendulum Posted: 27 Jan 2017 06:02 AM PST For the first time, researchers have measured the lifetime of an excited state in the nucleus of an unstable element. This is a major step toward a nuclear clock that could keep even better time than today's best atomic timekeepers.

Examining women's bones during menopause may help head off fractures Posted: 26 Jan 2017 04:09 PM PST A new study examined the bone traits of 198 midlife women transitioning through menopause for 14 years. The goal: identifying women who will experience bone fragility well in advance of fracture.

Andean bear survey in Peru finds humans not the only visitors to Machu Picchu Posted: 26 Jan 2017 01:29 PM PST The world-famous site of Machu Picchu is home to a biologically important and iconic species: the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus), report investigators.

How the border guards fail in HIV infection Posted: 26 Jan 2017 11:46 AM PST Using a novel technique to analyze antibodies in fluid collected from intestines of 81 HIV-1-infected and 25 control individuals, researchers have found abnormal gut antibody levels in people infected with HIV-1.

Gene key for chemically reprogramming human stem cells Posted: 26 Jan 2017 11:29 AM PST Scientists have discovered the gene essential for chemically reprogramming human amniotic stem cells into a more versatile state similar to embryonic stem cells.

What patients say and what doctors document Posted: 26 Jan 2017 10:26 AM PST When comparing a patient's self-reported eye symptoms to what ultimately goes in their electronic medical record, the overlap is often blurry, say researchers.

Feed a cold, starve a fever? Not so fast, study suggests Posted: 26 Jan 2017 10:26 AM PST A discovery into how bacteria control a host's hunger points to new ways to treat infections and appetite loss.

Premature babies don't use sensory-prediction brain process that may be key to development Posted: 26 Jan 2017 10:26 AM PST Babies born prematurely don't use their expectations about the world to shape their brains as babies born at full term do, important evidence that this neural process is important to development.