ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Study helps explain why uranium persists in groundwater at former mining sites
• Peroxide ingestion, promoted by alternative medicine, can be deadly
• Scientists illuminate role of staph toxins in bacterial sepsis
• Over 80% of online ad effect is on offline sales
• Unhealthy gut microbes a cause of hypertension, researchers find
• Research pushes concept of entropy out of kilter
• Chemists unveil versatile new method for making chiral drug molecules
• Battling corrosion to keep solar panels humming
• New scoring system predicts Ebola severity
• Polling is still best predictor of election outcomes, study suggests
• Toxic liver effects of fifteen drugs predicted using computational approach
• Scaled-up malaria control efforts breed insecticide resistance in mosquitoes
• Sleep deprivation handicaps the brain's ability to form new memories, mouse study shows
• Sleep research high-resolution images show how the brain resets during sleep
• Zika virus blindfolds immune alarm cells
• Political affiliation can predict how people will react to false information about threats
• To lose weight, and keep it off, be prepared to navigate interpersonal challenges
• The best treatment for laryngeal cancer? This approach helps decide
• Study points to a universal immune mechanism as a regulator of sleep
• New skin-graft system a better fix for chronic wounds
• Precision-medicine approach could revive prostate cancer test
• Neurobiologist illuminates the underexplored potential of cannabis to address opioid addiction
• Volunteering eases veterans' transition to civilian life
• Scientists identify key defect in brain tumor cells
• New way of visualizing fatty acids inside cells
• High levels of hospital-acquired infection on children's intensive care wards, study shows
• Shedding light on the brakes of Akt activity
• Dwarf planet Ceres may have vanishing ice volcanoes
• Researchers engineer new thyroid cells
• Large increase in eye injuries linked to laundry detergent pods among young children
• Evaluating a minimally disruptive treatment protocol for frontal sinus fractures
• Scientists find key cues to regulate bone-building cells
• Lung cancer screening rates remain very low among current and former smokers
• Baltic hunter-gatherers began farming without influence of migration, ancient DNA suggests
• New Zika vaccine candidate protects mice and monkeys with a single dose
• Researchers chart global genetic interaction networks in human cancer cells
• Plan to reduce air pollution chokes in Mexico City
• Scientists utilize innovative neuroimaging approach to unravel complex brain networks
• Quantum matter: Shaken, but not stirred
• 1000 times more efficient nano-LED opens door to faster microchips
• Treatment has no sufficient effect in one of five psoriasis patients
• Toward all-solid lithium batteries
• Three magnetic states for each hole: Researchers investigate the potential of metal grids for electronic components
• Evidence of 2 billion years of volcanic activity on Mars
• Predator threat boosts friendships among guppies
• Overnights at dad's home benefit divorced mothers, fathers and their babies
• The drugs don't work, say back pain researchers
• Cytotoxins contribute to virulence of deadly epidemic bacterial infections
• Researchers outline new policies for earlier detection of autism in children
• Low level of oxygen in Earth's middle ages delayed evolution for two billion years
• Scientists identify two brain networks influencing how we make decisions
• Common pain relievers may increase heart attack risk during respiratory infections
• Thin, flexible, light-absorbent material for energy and stealth applications
• With mini-vessels, mini-brains expand research potential
• Immune system suppression may be related to problem drinking
• Simulations reveal the invisible chaos of superluminous supernovae
• Letting Go: How dying cells detach from their neighbours
• Addicted individuals less responsive to reward-anticipation
• Antidepressants Induce Resilience and Reverse Susceptibility
• How breaks in DNA are repaired

Study helps explain why uranium persists in groundwater at former mining sites Posted: 02 Feb 2017 01:32 PM PST A recent study helps describe how uranium cycles through the environment at former uranium mining sites and why it can be difficult to remove.

Peroxide ingestion, promoted by alternative medicine, can be deadly Posted: 02 Feb 2017 01:13 PM PST High-concentration peroxide, sometimes promoted in alternative medicine circles for cleanses or as a so-called 'natural cure,' can lead to numerous life-threatening ailments and death itself, according to a new report.

Scientists illuminate role of staph toxins in bacterial sepsis Posted: 02 Feb 2017 01:13 PM PST Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria are a significant concern for hospitalized infants, children and anyone with implanted medical devices. The bacteria can infect the bloodstream causing sepsis. Severe bacterial sepsis is characterized by an extreme immune response, inflammation, reduced blood flow, clotting, and organ failure. A new study is helping scientists to understand this issue.

Over 80% of online ad effect is on offline sales Posted: 02 Feb 2017 01:13 PM PST Online display ads can increase both online and offline retail sales, providing valuable insight for future marketing decisions, say investigators.

Unhealthy gut microbes a cause of hypertension, researchers find Posted: 02 Feb 2017 12:00 PM PST The microorganisms residing in the intestines (microbiota) play a role in the development of high blood pressure in rats, researchers have discovered.

Research pushes concept of entropy out of kilter Posted: 02 Feb 2017 11:58 AM PST Entropy isn't well understood in systems that aren't at equilibrium, but a new experiment shows a non-equilibrium phenomenon that actually depends upon entropy.

Chemists unveil versatile new method for making chiral drug molecules Posted: 02 Feb 2017 11:58 AM PST A new technique has been invented for constructing chiral drug molecules, report scientists. Chiral molecules are those whose structural complexity allows them to have mirror-image, "left-handed" and "right-handed" forms. For drug molecules, usually only one of those forms works -- the other may even have unwanted side-effects -- and thus pharmaceutical chemists have a great need for methods to build molecules in a single chiral form, rather than an even mix of both.

Battling corrosion to keep solar panels humming Posted: 02 Feb 2017 11:20 AM PST Researchers are studying corrosion to help industry develop longer-lasting photovoltaic panels and increase reliability.

New scoring system predicts Ebola severity Posted: 02 Feb 2017 11:19 AM PST While Ebola virus disease (EVD) is notorious for being one of the world's most deadly infections, it actually has a wide range of outcomes, where asymptomatic presentation may be as common as fatality. Now, researchers have developed a new scale which can help predict which patients are most at risk of dying from EVD.

Polling is still best predictor of election outcomes, study suggests Posted: 02 Feb 2017 11:19 AM PST Donald Trump's surprising election as president of the United States was viewed by some people as evidence that electoral polling no longer works, but researchers report they have developed models using global polling data that can correctly predict up to 90 percent of election outcomes around the world.

Toxic liver effects of fifteen drugs predicted using computational approach Posted: 02 Feb 2017 11:19 AM PST A team of researchers has used a computational modeling approach to analyze and compare the toxic effects of fifteen different drugs on the liver, according to a new study.

Scaled-up malaria control efforts breed insecticide resistance in mosquitoes Posted: 02 Feb 2017 11:19 AM PST A genetic analysis of mosquito populations in Africa shows that recent successes in controlling malaria through treated bednets has led to widespread insecticide resistance in mosquitoes, according to a new study.

Sleep deprivation handicaps the brain's ability to form new memories, mouse study shows Posted: 02 Feb 2017 11:19 AM PST Studying mice, scientists have fortified evidence that a key purpose of sleep is to recalibrate the brain cells responsible for learning and memory so the animals can 'solidify' lessons learned and use them when they awaken -- in the case of nocturnal mice, the next evening.

Sleep research high-resolution images show how the brain resets during sleep Posted: 02 Feb 2017 11:19 AM PST Striking electron microscope pictures from inside the brains of mice suggest what happens in our own brain every day: Our synapses -- the junctions between nerve cells -- grow strong and large during the stimulation of daytime, then shrink by nearly 20 percent while we sleep, creating room for more growth and learning the next day.

Zika virus blindfolds immune alarm cells Posted: 02 Feb 2017 11:19 AM PST Dendritic cells are 'sentinel' cells that alert the rest of the immune system when they detect viral infection. When Zika virus infects them, it shuts down interferon signaling, one route for mustering the antiviral troops. However, another antiviral pathway called RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) signaling is left intact and could be a target for immunity-boosting therapies.

Political affiliation can predict how people will react to false information about threats Posted: 02 Feb 2017 11:18 AM PST How liberal or conservative a person is predicts how likely they are to believe information about potential hazards, a new study has found.

To lose weight, and keep it off, be prepared to navigate interpersonal challenges Posted: 02 Feb 2017 11:18 AM PST A new study highlights an unexpected challenge for those who have made a new year's resolution to lose weight: the people around you may consciously or subconsciously sabotage your efforts. The study also uncovered strategies that people use to navigate interpersonal challenges related to losing weight and keeping it off.

The best treatment for laryngeal cancer? This approach helps decide Posted: 02 Feb 2017 11:18 AM PST After a decade of using a novel approach to select patients for laryngeal cancer treatment, researchers are reporting 'exceptional' survival rates nearing 80 percent, even for the most advanced patients.

Study points to a universal immune mechanism as a regulator of sleep Posted: 02 Feb 2017 11:18 AM PST Sleep may be regulated in part by several brain-based immune proteins collectively called inflammasome NLRP3, suggests new research conducted in mice.

New skin-graft system a better fix for chronic wounds Posted: 02 Feb 2017 11:18 AM PST More than six million cases of chronic wounds cost $20 billion each year in the United States. Diabetic ulcers, pressure sores, surgical site wounds and traumatic injuries to high-risk patients account for most wounds that won't heal. However, data indicates that a recently developed skin-graft harvesting system aids in chronic wound recovery and reduces care costs by accelerating the healing process.

Precision-medicine approach could revive prostate cancer test Posted: 02 Feb 2017 11:18 AM PST A new study has identified genetic predictors of normal prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in healthy men, which could be used to improve the accuracy of PSA-based prostate cancer screening tests.

Neurobiologist illuminates the underexplored potential of cannabis to address opioid addiction Posted: 02 Feb 2017 11:13 AM PST Cannabinoids, extracts of cannabis legally sold as medical marijuana, could reduce cravings and ease withdrawal symptoms in heroin users, a number of animal studies and a small human pilot study have revealed.

Volunteering eases veterans' transition to civilian life Posted: 02 Feb 2017 11:13 AM PST The first peer-reviewed and published national study of civic service among U.S. vets who served in Iraq and/or Afghanistan found volunteering improved their health and social life.

Scientists identify key defect in brain tumor cells Posted: 02 Feb 2017 11:12 AM PST Researchers have identified a novel genetic defect that prevents brain tumor cells from repairing damaged DNA.

New way of visualizing fatty acids inside cells Posted: 02 Feb 2017 11:10 AM PST A new method to image intracellular fatty acids at a single cell level has been developed by a team of researchers. They treated cells with fatty acids containing a single bromine atom and used scanning X-ray fluorescence microscopy to observe the molecules inside the cells. The technique offers superior resolution. The new method may improve understanding of the role of fatty acids in cell function and disease.

High levels of hospital-acquired infection on children's intensive care wards, study shows Posted: 02 Feb 2017 11:10 AM PST A study has demonstrated ‘unacceptably high’ rates of hospital-acquired infections among children in the UK and Europe.

Shedding light on the brakes of Akt activity Posted: 02 Feb 2017 11:10 AM PST Changes leading to the hyperactivation of the protein kinase Akt are observed in almost 50% of all human tumors. Understanding Akt’s regulatory mechanisms is therefore essential for developing and improving cancer therapies. Researchers propose a completely new model of Akt regulation, limiting its activity to discrete locations within the cell – cellular membranes.

Dwarf planet Ceres may have vanishing ice volcanoes Posted: 02 Feb 2017 09:30 AM PST A recently discovered solitary ice volcano on the dwarf planet Ceres may have some hidden older siblings, say scientists who have tested a likely way such mountains of icy rock -- called cryovolcanoes -- might disappear over millions of years.

Researchers engineer new thyroid cells Posted: 02 Feb 2017 09:30 AM PST Researchers have discovered a new efficient way to generate thyroid cells, known as thyrocytes, using genetically modified embryonic stem cells. The findings are the first step to developing a similar protocol using human stem cells that will allow the modeling of thyroid disease to better understand its causes and the development of therapies.

Large increase in eye injuries linked to laundry detergent pods among young children Posted: 02 Feb 2017 09:28 AM PST Between 2012 and 2015, the number of chemical burns to the eye associated with laundry detergent pods increased more than 30-fold among preschool-aged children in the US, according to a study.

Evaluating a minimally disruptive treatment protocol for frontal sinus fractures Posted: 02 Feb 2017 09:28 AM PST A new article describes the experience with a minimally disruptive treatment protocol for frontal sinus fractures.

Scientists find key cues to regulate bone-building cells Posted: 02 Feb 2017 09:28 AM PST The prospect of regenerating bone lost to cancer or trauma is a step closer to the clinic as scientists have identified two proteins found in bone marrow as key regulators of the master cells responsible for making new bone.

Lung cancer screening rates remain very low among current and former smokers Posted: 02 Feb 2017 09:28 AM PST Lung cancer screening rates remained very low and unchanged among eligible populations in 2015, despite recommendations that high risk current and former smokers be screened, report researchers.

Baltic hunter-gatherers began farming without influence of migration, ancient DNA suggests Posted: 02 Feb 2017 09:28 AM PST Ancient DNA analyses show that -- unlike elsewhere in Europe -- farmers from the Near East did not overtake hunter-gatherer populations in the Baltic. This research suggests the Balto-Slavic branch of the Indo-European language family originated in the Steppe grasslands of the East.

New Zika vaccine candidate protects mice and monkeys with a single dose Posted: 02 Feb 2017 09:27 AM PST A new Zika vaccine candidate has the potential to protect against the virus with a single dose, according to a research team. Preclinical tests showed promising immune responses in both mice and monkeys.

Researchers chart global genetic interaction networks in human cancer cells Posted: 02 Feb 2017 09:27 AM PST Genetic networks have been identified in human cells, say researchers, noting that the study has also found potential targets for cancer therapy.

Plan to reduce air pollution chokes in Mexico City Posted: 02 Feb 2017 09:27 AM PST In 2008, Mexico City added driving restrictions on Saturdays in hopes of moving the needle on improving air quality but according to new research, the plan isn't working.

Scientists utilize innovative neuroimaging approach to unravel complex brain networks Posted: 02 Feb 2017 09:27 AM PST A research team has used an innovative neuroimaging tool to interrogate the complex brain networks and functions.

Quantum matter: Shaken, but not stirred Posted: 02 Feb 2017 09:27 AM PST A team of researchers has experimentally realized an exotic quantum system which is robust to mixing by periodic forces.

1000 times more efficient nano-LED opens door to faster microchips Posted: 02 Feb 2017 09:27 AM PST The electronic data connections within microchips are increasingly becoming a bottleneck in the exponential growth of data traffic. Optical connections are the obvious successors but optical data transmission requires an adequate nanoscale light source, and this has been lacking. Scientists have created a light source that has the right characteristics: a nano-LED that is 1000 times more efficient than its predecessors, and is capable of handling gigabits per second.

Treatment has no sufficient effect in one of five psoriasis patients Posted: 02 Feb 2017 09:27 AM PST A substantial part of people, one in five, undergoing systemic treatment for psoriasis (i.e. pills taken orally, injections or infusions) still have considerable problems with their disease, according to a recent study.

Toward all-solid lithium batteries Posted: 02 Feb 2017 09:27 AM PST A new study unravels the properties of a promising new material for all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries, which could be safer and longer-lasting than traditional batteries.

Three magnetic states for each hole: Researchers investigate the potential of metal grids for electronic components Posted: 02 Feb 2017 09:27 AM PST Nanometer-scale magnetic perforated grids could create new possibilities for computing, say scientists who have shown how a cobalt grid can be reliably programmed at room temperature. In addition they discovered that for every hole ('antidot') three magnetic states can be configured.

Evidence of 2 billion years of volcanic activity on Mars Posted: 02 Feb 2017 06:08 AM PST Analysis of a Martian meteorite found in Africa in 2012 has uncovered evidence of at least 2 billion years of volcanic activity on Mars. This confirms that some of the longest-lived volcanoes in the solar system may be found on the Red Planet.

Predator threat boosts friendships among guppies Posted: 02 Feb 2017 06:08 AM PST Danger from predators causes animals to form stronger friendships, according to new research. Scientists observed Trinidadian guppies and found the fish developed stronger and more stable social bonds when they thought predators were in the area.

Overnights at dad's home benefit divorced mothers, fathers and their babies Posted: 02 Feb 2017 06:08 AM PST When children are infants and toddlers, some parents and some prominent psychologists worry that frequent overnights at the father's home might disturb the relationship with mother. But new research shows that children of divorce, no matter what their age, benefit from having parenting time with each parent that includes sleepovers at each house.

The drugs don't work, say back pain researchers Posted: 02 Feb 2017 06:08 AM PST Commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, used to treat back pain provide little benefit, but cause side effects, according to new research. The findings of the systematic review reveal only one in six patients treated with the pills, also known as NSAIDs, achieve any significant reduction in pain.

Cytotoxins contribute to virulence of deadly epidemic bacterial infections Posted: 02 Feb 2017 06:08 AM PST Beginning in the mid-1980s, an epidemic of severe invasive infections caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (S. pyogenes), also known as group A streptococcus (GAS), occurred in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere. Potent cytotoxins produced by this human pathogen contribute to the infection, commonly known as 'flesh-eating disease.' A new study reports that the bacteria's full virulence is dependent on the presence of two specific cytotoxins, NADase (SPN) and streptolysin O (SLO).

Researchers outline new policies for earlier detection of autism in children Posted: 02 Feb 2017 06:08 AM PST The earlier that autism is diagnosed and treated in children, the better outcomes they will experience for future relationships and careers. However, most children aren't detected and diagnosed with ASD until around age four, with children from economically disadvantaged or minority backgrounds detected and diagnosed up to two years later, on average. Researchers recommend that children be universally screened for ASD at 18 months and again at 24 months, among other strategies.