ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Reasons for ibrutinib therapy discontinuation in CLL Posted: 27 Feb 2015 03:13 PM PST About 10 percent of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia discontinued therapy with the Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor drug ibrutinib because of disease progression during clinical trials, according to a new study.

First detailed microscopy evidence of bacteria at the lower size limit of life Posted: 27 Feb 2015 03:13 PM PST Scientists have captured the first detailed microscopy images of ultra-small bacteria that are believed to be about as small as life can get. The existence of ultra-small bacteria has been debated for two decades, but there hasn't been a comprehensive electron microscopy and DNA-based description of the microbes until now. The cells have an average volume of 0.009 cubic microns (one micron is one millionth of a meter). About 150 of these bacteria could fit inside an Escherichia coli cell and more than 150,000 cells could fit onto the tip of a human hair.

Crohn's disease not exempt from racial disparities Posted: 27 Feb 2015 03:13 PM PST Significant differences were found in hospital re-admissions, medication usage, and both medical and surgical complications of children with Crohn's disease related to race. In the study, black children had a 1.5 times higher frequency of hospital re-admissions because of Crohn's disease compared to white children.

Research of plain wren duets could help further understand fundamentals of conversation Posted: 27 Feb 2015 03:13 PM PST Known for their beautiful singing duets, plain wrens of Costa Rica perform precise phrase-by-phrase modifications to the duration between two consecutive phrases, achieving careful coordination as their songs unfold. A new study shows that these songbirds achieve precise coordination by adjusting the period between two consecutive phrases (inter-phrase intervals), depending on whether their song is answered, the phrase type used in the duet and the position of the inter-phrase interval within the duet.

Life 'not as we know it' possible on Saturn's moon Titan Posted: 27 Feb 2015 03:13 PM PST A new type of methane-based, oxygen-free life form that can metabolize and reproduce similar to life on Earth has been modeled. It is theorized to have a cell membrane, composed of small organic nitrogen compounds and capable of functioning in liquid methane temperatures of 292 degrees below zero.

Hospitals participating in ACS NSQIP significantly improve surgical outcomes over time Posted: 27 Feb 2015 03:13 PM PST The majority of hospitals participating in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project improve surgical outcomes over time, and improvement continues with each year that hospitals participate in the program, according to a new study.

Introverts prefer mountains Posted: 27 Feb 2015 03:13 PM PST In a series of three studies, researchers tested whether there is a link between personality and an aspect of physical ecology: flat terrain versus mountainous terrain. The study found that only one of the Big Five personality traits predicted terrain preference -- extraversion.

The better to see you with: Prosthetic leg would keep an eye on path ahead Posted: 27 Feb 2015 03:10 PM PST A mechanical engineer and his team have developed a computer-controlled camera that enables their robotic ankle to see where it is going.

New compounds protect nervous system from the structural damage characteristic of multiple sclerosis Posted: 27 Feb 2015 03:10 PM PST A newly characterized group of pharmacological compounds block both the inflammation and nerve cell damage seen in mouse models of multiple sclerosis, according to a study. Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the brain and spinal cord, where for unknown reasons, the body's immune system begins an inflammatory attack against myelin, the protective nerve coating that surrounds nerve fibers. Once myelin is stripped from these fibers, the nerve cells become highly susceptible to damage, which is believed to underlie their destruction, leading to the steady clinical decline seen in progressive forms of multiple sclerosis.

Intimate partners with low self-esteem stay in unhappy relationships Posted: 27 Feb 2015 12:48 PM PST People with low self-esteem are more likely stay in unhappy relationships, suggests new research. Sufferers of low self-esteem tend not to voice relationship complaints with their partner because they fear rejection.

Reviving drugs with anti-stroke potential, minus side effects Posted: 27 Feb 2015 12:48 PM PST Scientists have found NMDA receptor antagonists that can limit damage to the brain in animal models of stroke, apparently without the pronounced side effects seen with similar drugs. Now researchers have found a potential path around this obstacle, they report.

Bringing clean energy a step closer Posted: 27 Feb 2015 11:49 AM PST Researchers have made an inexpensive metal-free catalyst that performs as well as costly metal catalysts at speeding the oxygen reduction reaction in an acidic fuel cell, and is more durable. The catalyst is made of sheets of nitrogen-doped graphene that provides great surface area, carbon nanotubes that enhance conductivity, and carbon black particles that separate the layers allowing the electrolyte and oxygen to flow freely, which greatly increased performance and efficiency.

Energy use in buildings: Innovative, lower cost sensors and controls yield better energy efficiency Posted: 27 Feb 2015 11:48 AM PST Buildings are responsible for about 40 percent of the energy consumed in the United States. Studies indicate that advanced sensors and controls have the potential to reduce the energy consumption of buildings by 20-30 percent.

Mystery of the reverse-wired eyeball solved Posted: 27 Feb 2015 10:10 AM PST Counter-intuitively, in vertebrates photoreceptors are located behind the neurons in the back of the eye. Now physicists explain why the neural wiring seems to be backwards.

Drug research, development more efficient than expected Posted: 27 Feb 2015 10:10 AM PST Despite ever increasing regulation in drug approval and the rising costs of research, drug research and development remains unexpectedly efficient, a new shows. To investigate the efficiency in the development of new drugs, the researchers analyzed a data set consisting of new drugs approved by the FDA. They looked at efficiency indicators that could potentially positively influence the approval of new drugs.

Predicting human crowds with statistical physics Posted: 27 Feb 2015 10:10 AM PST A general law of how pedestrians interact in a crowd can be used to create realistic crowds in virtual reality games and to make public spaces safer.

Employees become angry when receiving after-hours email, texts Posted: 27 Feb 2015 10:10 AM PST People who receive electronic correspondence from work after hours become angry more often than not and that can interfere with their personal lives, a new study from a management researcher shows.

How were fossil tracks made by Early Triassic swimming reptiles so well preserved? Posted: 27 Feb 2015 10:10 AM PST That swim tracks made by tetrapods occur in high numbers in deposits from the Early Triassic is well known. What is less clear is why the tracks are so abundant and well preserved. Paleontologists have now determined that a unique combination of factors in Early Triassic delta systems resulted in the production and unusually widespread preservation of the swim tracks: delayed ecologic recovery, depositional environments, and tetrapod swimming behavior.

Cryptochrome protein helps birds navigate via magnetic field Posted: 27 Feb 2015 10:10 AM PST Researchers have found one one possible explanation for some birds' ability to sense the earth's magnetic field and use it to orient themselves: a magnetically sensitive protein called cryptochrome that mediates circadian rhythms in plants and animals.

Enhancing studies on a possible blood biomarker for traumatic brain injury Posted: 27 Feb 2015 10:09 AM PST New technology could help advance blood biomarker capabilities for improved diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI). An estimated 1.7 million Americans suffer a traumatic brain injury each year, and an estimated 5.3 million individuals -- approximately two percent of the U.S. population -- are living with disability as a result of TBI. Traumatic brain injuries can occur from even the slightest bump or blow to the head.

Physician-industry conflict of interest issue from MS patient perspective Posted: 27 Feb 2015 10:09 AM PST A new study explores what multiple sclerosis patients know, or want to know, about their physician’s financial relationship with the pharmaceutical company sponsoring clinical trials.

Growth signal can influence cancer cells' vulnerability to drugs, study suggests Posted: 27 Feb 2015 09:19 AM PST In theory, a tumor is an army of clones, made up of many copies of the original cancerous cell. But tumor cells don't always act like duplicates, and their unpredictable behavior can create problems for treatment. For while some cells within a tumor succumb to anti-cancer drugs, others may survive to bring the cancer back to life once therapy has ended.

Anderson algorithm increases surgical success with advanced ovarian cancer Posted: 27 Feb 2015 09:19 AM PST A surgical algorithm developed and implemented by ovarian cancer specialists dramatically increases the frequency of complete removal of all visible tumor – a milestone strongly tied to improved survival. The algorithm is a framework for a personalized surgical approach that allows surgeons to be "much smarter about whom we operate on up front, providing a more individualized approach to surgery that's led to better results for our patients," said one clinician.

Aggressive boys tend to develop into physically stronger teens Posted: 27 Feb 2015 08:27 AM PST Boys who show aggressive tendencies develop greater physical strength as teenagers than boys who are not aggressive, according to new research. Research has suggested a link between male upper-body strength and aggressive tendencies, but the mechanisms that account for the link are not well understood.

Study challenges theory on unconscious memory system in the brain Posted: 27 Feb 2015 08:27 AM PST A long-accepted scientific theory about the role the hippocampus plays in our unconscious memory is being challenged by new research. For decades, scientists have theorized that this part of the brain is not involved in processing unconscious memory, the type that allows us to do things like button a shirt without having to think about it.

Zombie outbreak? Statistical mechanics reveals the ideal hideout; and informs real disease modeling Posted: 27 Feb 2015 08:27 AM PST A team researchers focusing on a fictional zombie outbreak as an approach to disease modeling suggests heading for the hills, in the Rockies, to save your brains from the undead.

Saving energy: Increasing oil flow in the Keystone pipeline with electric fields Posted: 27 Feb 2015 08:27 AM PST A strong electric field applied to a section of the Keystone pipeline can smooth oil flow and yield significant pump energy savings. Once aligned with an electric field, oil retained its low viscosity and turbulence for more than 11 hours before returning to its original viscosity. The process is repeatable and the researchers envision placing aligning stations spaced along a pipeline, significantly reducing the energy necessary to transport oil.

Hiv controls its activity independent of host cells Posted: 27 Feb 2015 08:27 AM PST A major hurdle to curing people of HIV infection is the way the virus hides in a reservoir composed primarily of dormant immune cells. It is generally believed that HIV does not replicate in these cells because the virus depends on active cellular machinery to do so. Now, two new papers propose that the virus itself -- not cells -- controls whether HIV is replicating, and that periods of latency paradoxically give the virus a survival advantage.

High stress for new mothers increases secondhand smoke risk for infants Posted: 27 Feb 2015 08:27 AM PST Mothers with a high level of prenatal social stressors -- including possibly less control over their own housing situation or economic distress -- had 2.5 times higher odds to have only a partial or no restriction on smoking in their home than those with no stressors, which increases secondhand smoke risk, a study has found.

Sun has more impact on the climate in cool periods Posted: 27 Feb 2015 08:27 AM PST The activity of the Sun is an important factor in the complex interaction that controls our climate. New research now shows that the impact of the Sun is not constant over time, but has greater significance when the Earth is cooler.

Modern logging techniques benefit rainforest wildlife Posted: 27 Feb 2015 08:26 AM PST The value of a modern logging technique has been revealed for maintaining biodiversity in tropical forests that are used for timber production. The most comprehensive study of Reduced-Impact Logging (RIL) to date has been completed, surveying wildlife communities over a five-year period before and after timber harvesting.

Breakthrough in understanding how cancer cells metastasize Posted: 27 Feb 2015 08:26 AM PST A protein commonly found in human cells could be an important switch that activates cancer cell metastasis, according to a new study. The finding focuses attention on a biological mechanism that until now was largely overlooked. The discovery of the protein's effect significantly expands our understanding of epithelial cancers such as breast and lung cancer.

New tool provides maps of protein interactions for 2,800 diseases Posted: 27 Feb 2015 08:26 AM PST A new tool allows researchers to explore how alterations in more than 2,000 proteins affect the diverse biological functions in which these molecules are involved. The tool may help gain a more global view of the causes of tumor development.

Untangling DNA with a droplet of water, a pipet and a polymer Posted: 27 Feb 2015 08:26 AM PST Researchers have long sought an efficient way to untangle DNA to study its structure -- neatly unraveled and straightened out -- under a microscope. Now, researchers have devised a simple and effective solution: they inject genetic material into a droplet of water and use a pipet tip to drag it over a glass plate covered with a sticky polymer.

New breast cancer test links immune 'hotspots' to better survival Posted: 27 Feb 2015 08:26 AM PST Scientists have developed a new test that can predict the survival chances of women with breast cancer by analyzing images of 'hotspots' where there has been a fierce immune reaction to a tumor. Researchers used statistical software previously used in criminology studies of crime hotspots to track the extent to which the immune system was homing in and attacking breast cancer cells.

New filter could advance terahertz data transmission Posted: 27 Feb 2015 08:26 AM PST For wireless communication in the long-sought terahertz range, engineers have devised a frequency filter that can be fabricated with an inkjet printer.

Submarine data used to investigate turbulence beneath Arctic ice Posted: 27 Feb 2015 08:25 AM PST Using recently released Royal Navy submarine data, researchers have investigated the nature of turbulence in the ocean beneath the Arctic sea-ice. Recent decreases in Arctic sea ice may have a big impact on the circulation, chemistry and biology of the Arctic Ocean, due to ice-free waters becoming more turbulent. By revealing more about how these turbulent motions distribute energy within the ocean, the findings from this study provide information important for accurate predictions of the future of the Arctic Ocean.

The biobattery: Turning sewage sludge into electricity and engine oil Posted: 27 Feb 2015 08:25 AM PST Sewage sludge, green waste, production residue from the food industry, straw or animal excrement – with the biobattery‘s modular concept a much larger range of biomass can be utilized for energy recovery than previously. Researchers show that they can convert organic residues into electricity, heat, purified gas, engine oil and high quality biochar using this process.

Feast-and-famine diet could help extend life, study suggests Posted: 27 Feb 2015 08:25 AM PST Think of it as interval training for the dinner table. Fasting has been shown in mice to extend lifespan and to improve age-related diseases. But fasting every day, which could entail skipping meals or simply reducing overall caloric intake, can be hard to maintain. In a new study, researchers looked at intermittent fasting. They measured participants' changes in weight, blood pressure, heart rate, glucose levels, cholesterol, markers of inflammation and genes involved in protective cell responses over 10 weeks. They found that intermittent fasting caused a slight increase to SIRT 3, a well-known gene that promotes longevity and is involved in protective cell responses.

Transient details of HIV genome packaging captured Posted: 27 Feb 2015 08:25 AM PST Once HIV-1 has hijacked a host cell to make copies of its own RNA genome and viral proteins, it must assemble these components into new virus particles. The orchestration of this intricate assembly process falls to a viral protein known as Gag. For one thing, Gag must be able to discern viral RNA from the host cell’s and squirrel it away inside new viral particles — no easy task considering only two to three percent of the RNA found in the cytoplasm is from HIV-1. Exactly how Gag selectively packages viral RNA has been widely speculated but never directly observed.

Terrorist attacks have shifted from air to rail, study suggests Posted: 27 Feb 2015 08:25 AM PST Data on terrorist attacks from 1982 to 2011 show a long-term trend away from air attacks and toward railroad and subway attacks, underscoring the need for increased intelligence gathering to intercept those redirected attempts.

Neurons controlling appetite made from skin cells Posted: 27 Feb 2015 08:25 AM PST Researchers have for the first time successfully converted adult human skin cells into neurons of the type that regulate appetite, providing a patient-specific model for studying the neurophysiology of weight control and testing new therapies for obesity.

Left or right? The brain knows before you move Posted: 27 Feb 2015 08:24 AM PST A neural circuit that connects motor planning to movement has been identified by researchers. The study, the researchers say, explains why injuries that disrupt the brain's ability to carry out movement planning typically impair a person's ability to make movements on just one side of his or her body.

Urine test could lead to better treatment of bladder cancer Posted: 27 Feb 2015 05:47 AM PST A simple urine test could help to guide clinicians in the treatment of bladder cancer patients, researchers believe. Being able to reliably identify those patients with the most aggressive cancers early via urine tests, and expediting aggressive therapeutic strategies, may significantly improve outcomes, they say.

Global health experts call into question sub-Saharan cancer data Posted: 27 Feb 2015 05:47 AM PST Global health experts believe the current data on cancer prevalence, incidence and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa -- which determines how billions of pounds of international development money is spent -- are weak and could mean vital funds are being deflected from other priorities. These include diarrheal and waterborne diseases, malnutrition, sanitation and the need to strengthen health systems.

Strait of Georgia: Salish Sea seagull populations halved since 1980s Posted: 27 Feb 2015 05:47 AM PST The number of seagulls in the Strait of Georgia is down by 50 per cent from the 1980s and researchers say the decline reflects changes in the availability of food.

QR codes with advanced imaging and photon encryption protect computer chips Posted: 27 Feb 2015 05:47 AM PST Engineers have taken the ordinary QR code and transformed it into a high-end cybersecurity application that can protect the integrity of computer chips using advanced optical imaging and photon-based encryption.

New ultrasensitive test for peanut allergies Posted: 27 Feb 2015 05:47 AM PST Chemists have developed a new test for peanut allergies that can not only tell whether someone is allergic, it can also determine how intense their allergic reaction will be.

Newly discovered algal species helps corals survive in the hottest reefs on the planet Posted: 27 Feb 2015 05:47 AM PST A new species of algae has been discovered in reef corals of the Persian Gulf where it helps corals to survive seawater temperatures of up to 36 degrees Celsius -- temperatures that would kill corals elsewhere.

Suicide rates rising for older US adults Posted: 27 Feb 2015 05:47 AM PST Suicide rates for adults 40-64 years of age in the US have risen about 40 percent since 1999, with a sharp rise since 2007. One possible explanation could be the detrimental effects of the economic downturn of 2007-2009, leading to disproportionate effects on house values, household finances, and retirement savings for that age group. Researchers found that external economic factors were present in 37.5 percent of all completed suicides in 2010, rising from 32.9 percent in 2005.

Experts warn of stem cell underuse as transplants reach one million worldwide Posted: 27 Feb 2015 05:46 AM PST Findings of a new reveal striking variations between countries and regions in the use of this lifesaving stem cell transplantation, and high unmet need due to a chronic shortage of resources and donors that is putting lives at risk, experts report.

Quantum radar to detect objects which are invisible to conventional systems Posted: 27 Feb 2015 05:46 AM PST A prototype quantum radar that has the potential to detect objects which are invisible to conventional systems has now been developed.

Ensuring security for networks of the future Posted: 27 Feb 2015 05:46 AM PST Company networks are inflexible – they are made up of many components that require a good deal of effort to be connected together. That’s why networks of the future will be controlled by a central unit. However, this makes them a target for hackers. Researchers can demonstrate how to protect these future networks.

Quick test for quality beer, milk Posted: 27 Feb 2015 05:46 AM PST To guarantee a high quality of their beer, breweries monitor the production process very closely. With a new polymer powder, this monitoring will be able to be faster and simpler in the future. Manufacturers can also test drinks such as milk, juice, cola and red wine with the quick check.

Wind-powered freighters Posted: 27 Feb 2015 05:45 AM PST To make ships more eco-efficient, engineers have been working with alternative fuels. A Norwegian engineer is currently pursuing a new approach: With VindskipTM, he has designed a cargo ship that is powered by wind and gas. Software will ensure an optimum use of the available wind energy at any time.

Teenagers aren't swayed by celebrity culture as a route to success Posted: 27 Feb 2015 05:45 AM PST Young people believe that to get on in life they should work hard, a new study concludes. The study also notes that many teenagers admire celebrities who they think have earned their prosperity and behave respectably.

DNA evidence shows surprise cultural connections between Britain and Europe 8,000 years ago Posted: 27 Feb 2015 05:45 AM PST DNA evidence shows surprise cultural connections between Britain and Europe 8,000 years ago. Researchers found evidence for a variety of wheat at a submerged archaeological site off the south coast of England, 2,000 years before the introduction of farming in the UK.

Quality control for adult stem cell treatment Posted: 27 Feb 2015 05:45 AM PST A strategy to ensure that adult epidermal stem cells are safe before they are used as treatments for patients has been devised by scientists. The approach involves a clonal strategy where stem cells are collected and cultivated, genetically modified and single cells isolated before being rigorously tested to make sure they meet the highest possible safety criteria. The strategy is inspired by the approaches the biotechnology industry and regulatory affairs authorities have adopted for medicinal proteins produced from genetically engineered mammalian cells.

Antibiotic resistant salad: Resistant Listeria monocytogenes not as widespread as thought Posted: 27 Feb 2015 05:45 AM PST Antibiotic-resistant strains of the food-poisoning microbe Listeria monocytogenes in unprocessed salad products is not quite as widespread as scientists originally suspected. A new study reveals that strains of the microbe falling into six distinct groups can all be found on such products, but 82 percent of those strains succumb to at least one of sixteen common antibiotics used in veterinary and human listeriosis treatment.

New approach to assessing effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs Posted: 27 Feb 2015 05:43 AM PST Scientists have a developed a new method to monitor the effect of anti-cancer drugs on very rare leukemia stem cells. The approach potentially allows doctors to screen patients and personalize their treatment.