ScienceDaily: Top News

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• How stress may increase risk of heart disease and stroke
• Incentive pay schemes can affect employee well-being
• Most valuable colleagues: What the NBA can teach us about worker productivity
• Bacterial protein structure could aid development of new antibiotics
• Researchers develop novel treatment to prevent graft-versus-host-disease
• Pressures from grazers hastens ecosystem collapse from drought
• Deciphering the beetle exoskeleton with nanomechanics
• New target for taming Ebola
• How a Western diet leads to overeating and obesity
• Sketching out magnetism with electricity
• Diet helps shed pounds, release toxins and reduce oxidative stress
• Cost, technology issues are barriers to real-time cancer patient symptom reporting
• Genetic opposites attract when chimpanzees choose a mate
• Should biomedical graduate schools ignore the GRE?
• Stem cells used to regenerate the external layer of a human heart
• Strep spreads by harnessing immune defenses of those infected
• Trust issues: Users more gullible when they customize their technology
• Do dogs of all ages respond equally to dog-directed speech?
• Report recommends new framework for estimating the social cost of carbon
• Why better choices depend on 'libertarian paternalism'
• Release of water shakes Pacific plate at depth
• Changing climate changes soils
• A glimpse into the workings of the baby brain
• Paleontologists classify mysterious ancient cone-shaped sea creatures
• Scientists discover world's largest tropical peatland in remote Congo swamps
• Physicists 'squeeze' light to cool microscopic drum below quantum limit
• 'Marvel microbes' illuminate how cells became complex
• New genes identified that regulate the spread of cancers
• New laser based on unusual physics phenomenon could improve telecommunications, computing
• Can the 'greening' be greener?
• First look inside nanoscale catalysts shows 'defects' are useful
• new light shed on functioning of human gut bacteria
• Gun violence in PG-13 movies continues to climb past R-rated films
• Superhero culture magnifies aggressive, not defending behaviors
• New therapeutic target against persistent viral infections
• Measuring how perovskite solar films efficiently convert light to power
• Catching CRISPR in action: First all-atom simulation of genome editing in action
• DNA duplicator small enough to hold in your hand
• High-sugar diet programs a short lifespan in flies
• National salt reduction strategy is cost-effective 'best buy' for 183 countries worldwide
• High dietary red meat intake linked to common bowel condition diverticulitis
• Walking the tightrope: The balance between helping patients now without risking the future
• Contrary to decades of hype, curcumin alone is unlikely to boost health
• Our galaxy's black hole is spewing out planet-size 'spitballs'
• Farthest stars in Milky Way might be ripped from another galaxy
• New type of monitoring provides information about the life of bacteria in microdroplets
• Customers who receive genetic health data not alarmed by results, find information useful
• For men with prostate cancer, emotional distress may lead to more aggressive treatment
• Bronchial carcinoma: Added benefit of crizotinib not proven
• New method to remove nickel from contaminated seawater
• Changes to hospital electronic health records could improve care of patients on warfarin
• Tumor-seeking salmonella treats brain tumors
• A novel cancer immunotherapy shows early promise in preclinical studies
• Surprise advance in the treatment of adult cancers
• Updated classification system captures many more people at risk for heart attack
• Nature's weaving formula used to engineer advanced functional materials
• New Colombian plant discovered honors Colombian president
• How to inflate a huge hardened concrete shell
• Psychology: Playful people are at an advantage
• Looking for life in all the right places, with the right tool

How stress may increase risk of heart disease and stroke Posted: 11 Jan 2017 06:36 PM PST Heightened activity in the amygdala -- a region of the brain involved in stress -- is associated with a greater risk of heart disease and stroke, according to a study that provides new insights into the possible mechanism by which stress can lead to cardiovascular disease in humans.

Incentive pay schemes can affect employee well-being Posted: 11 Jan 2017 06:32 PM PST Incentive-related pay schemes can stress rather than motivate employees, according to new research.

Most valuable colleagues: What the NBA can teach us about worker productivity Posted: 11 Jan 2017 03:45 PM PST Some employees could have a halo effect on their peers, according to new research. An individual's decisions regarding whether to smoke, how much to eat and whether to attend college can all be influenced by peer choices. In the same way, workplace productivity can spill over from one employee to another.

Bacterial protein structure could aid development of new antibiotics Posted: 11 Jan 2017 03:45 PM PST Bacterial cells have an added layer of protection, called the cell wall, that animal cells don't. Assembling this tough armor entails multiple steps, some of which are targeted by antibiotics like penicillin and vancomycin. Now researchers have provided the first close-up glimpse of a protein, called MurJ, which is crucial for building the bacterial cell wall and protecting it from outside attack. The findings could be used to develop new broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Researchers develop novel treatment to prevent graft-versus-host-disease Posted: 11 Jan 2017 03:45 PM PST Graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) is the leading cause of non-relapse associated death in patients who receive stem cell transplants. In a new study, researchers show that a novel treatment can effectively inhibit the development of GVHD in mice and maintain the infection- and tumor-fighting capabilities of the immune system.

Pressures from grazers hastens ecosystem collapse from drought Posted: 11 Jan 2017 03:44 PM PST Ecosystem collapse from extreme drought can be significantly hastened by pressures placed on drought-weakened vegetation by grazers and fungal pathogens, a new study finds. The study's experimental evidence shows that the natural enemies of plants play a major role in lowering resilience to drought and preventing recovery afterward. The finding may be applicable to a wide range of ecosystems now threatened by climate-intensified drought, including marshes, mangroves, forests and grasslands.

Deciphering the beetle exoskeleton with nanomechanics Posted: 11 Jan 2017 03:44 PM PST Engineers have employed a creative way to identify the geometry and material properties of the fibers that comprise a beetle's exoskeleton. This work could ultimately uncover information that could guide the design and manufacturing of new and improved artificial materials through bio-mimicry.

New target for taming Ebola Posted: 11 Jan 2017 03:44 PM PST A team of scientists has identified a mechanism that appears to represent one way that host cells have evolved to outsmart infection by Ebola and other viruses.

How a Western diet leads to overeating and obesity Posted: 11 Jan 2017 03:43 PM PST More than two in three adults in the United States are considered overweight or obese, with substantial biomedical and clinical evidence suggesting that chronic overconsumption of a 'western diet' -- foods consisting high levels of sugars and fats -- is a major cause of this epidemic. New research now shows that chronic consumption of a western diet leads to overeating and obesity due to elevations in 'peripheral endocannabinoid signaling.'

Sketching out magnetism with electricity Posted: 11 Jan 2017 03:41 PM PST In a proof-of-concept study, researchers drew magnetic squares in a nonmagnetic material with an electrified pen and then “read” this magnetic doodle with X-rays.

Diet helps shed pounds, release toxins and reduce oxidative stress Posted: 11 Jan 2017 03:41 PM PST Research by exercise scientists has found that a balanced, protein-pacing, low-calorie diet that includes intermittent fasting not only achieves long-term weight loss, but also helps release toxins in the form of PCBs from the body fat stores, in addition to enhancing heart health and reducing oxidative stress.

Cost, technology issues are barriers to real-time cancer patient symptom reporting Posted: 11 Jan 2017 03:40 PM PST In a perspective article, a researcher addresses the need for – and the barriers preventing – electronic reporting of patients’ symptoms between visits.

Genetic opposites attract when chimpanzees choose a mate Posted: 11 Jan 2017 12:18 PM PST Researchers find that chimpanzees are more likely to reproduce with mates whose genetic makeup most differs from their own. Many animals avoid breeding with parents, siblings and other close relatives, researchers say. But chimps are unusual in that even among virtual strangers they can tell genetically similar mates from more distant ones. Chimps are able to distinguish degrees of genetic similarity among unfamiliar mates many steps removed from them in their family tree.

Should biomedical graduate schools ignore the GRE? Posted: 11 Jan 2017 12:18 PM PST The Graduate Record Exam (GRE), which is required for admission to graduate and doctorate programs across the country, is not the best indicator for predicting a student's success while pursuing a doctorate in the experimental life sciences. And from that research, investigators recommend devaluing - if not eliminating altogether - the GRE from the applications process for biomedical PhD candidates.

Stem cells used to regenerate the external layer of a human heart Posted: 11 Jan 2017 12:18 PM PST A process using human stem cells can generate the cells that cover the external surface of a human heart -- epicardium cells -- according to a multidisciplinary team of researchers.

Strep spreads by harnessing immune defenses of those infected Posted: 11 Jan 2017 12:18 PM PST The bacteria that cause most cases of pneumonia worldwide secrete a toxin that helps them jump from one body to the next -- with help from the hosts' immune defenses.

Trust issues: Users more gullible when they customize their technology Posted: 11 Jan 2017 12:18 PM PST Cheery robots may give people the creeps and serious robots may actually ease anxiety depending on how users perceive the robot's role in their lives, according to an international team of researchers.

Do dogs of all ages respond equally to dog-directed speech? Posted: 11 Jan 2017 12:18 PM PST People tend to talk to dogs as though they are human babies. A new study shows that people speak more slowly and with a higher tone to dogs of all ages -- both adults and puppies -- and that puppies respond most readily to this dog-directed speech.

Report recommends new framework for estimating the social cost of carbon Posted: 11 Jan 2017 12:18 PM PST To estimate the social cost of carbon dioxide for use in regulatory impact analyses, the federal government should use a new framework that would strengthen the scientific basis, provide greater transparency, and improve characterization of the uncertainties of the estimates, suggests a new report.

Why better choices depend on 'libertarian paternalism' Posted: 11 Jan 2017 12:18 PM PST Nudging people toward better behavior through policy can be effective, but can face resistance if people feel their autonomy is threatened.

Release of water shakes Pacific plate at depth Posted: 11 Jan 2017 12:14 PM PST A team of seismologists analyzing the data from 671 earthquakes that occurred between 30 and 280 miles beneath the Earth's surface in the Pacific Plate as it descended into the Tonga Trench were surprised to find a zone of intense earthquake activity in the downgoing slab. The pattern of the activity along the slab provided strong evidence that the earthquakes are sparked by the release of water at depth.

Changing climate changes soils Posted: 11 Jan 2017 10:38 AM PST Researchers have used digital techniques to predict how one vital soil characteristic, soil organic carbon, may be altered by climate change.

A glimpse into the workings of the baby brain Posted: 11 Jan 2017 10:28 AM PST Neuroscientists have adapted their MRI scanner to make it easier to scan infants' brains as the babies watch movies featuring different types of visual input.

Paleontologists classify mysterious ancient cone-shaped sea creatures Posted: 11 Jan 2017 10:28 AM PST One branch on the tree of life is heavier as a team of scientists has determined what a bizarre group of extinct cone-shaped animals actually are. Known as hyoliths, these marine creatures evolved over 530 million years ago and are among the first known to have external skeletons. Long believed to be molluscs, a new study shows a stronger relationship to brachiopods -- a group with a rich fossil record though few species living today.

Scientists discover world's largest tropical peatland in remote Congo swamps Posted: 11 Jan 2017 10:28 AM PST A vast peatland in the Congo Basin has been mapped for the first time, revealing it to be the largest in the tropics. The new study found that the Cuvette Centrale peatlands in the central Congo Basin, which were unknown to exist five years ago, cover 145,500 square kilometres -- an area larger than England. They lock in 30 billion tonnes of carbon making the region one of the most carbon-rich ecosystems on Earth.

Physicists 'squeeze' light to cool microscopic drum below quantum limit Posted: 11 Jan 2017 10:28 AM PST Physicists have cooled a mechanical object to a temperature lower than previously thought possible, below the so-called 'quantum limit.'

'Marvel microbes' illuminate how cells became complex Posted: 11 Jan 2017 10:28 AM PST A newly discovered group of microbes provide new insights as to how complex cellular life emerged. The study provides new details of how, billions of years ago, complex cell types that comprise plants, fungi, but also animals and humans, gradually evolved from simpler microbial ancestors.

New genes identified that regulate the spread of cancers Posted: 11 Jan 2017 10:28 AM PST Researchers have discovered a new biological target for drugs to reduce the spread of tumours in cancer patients. The study with genetically modified mice found 23 genes that are involved in regulating the spread of cancers. The researchers showed that targeting one of these genes -- Spns2 -- led to a three-quarters reduction in tumor spread.

New laser based on unusual physics phenomenon could improve telecommunications, computing Posted: 11 Jan 2017 10:27 AM PST Researchers have demonstrated the world's first laser based on an unconventional wave physics phenomenon called bound states in the continuum. The technology could revolutionize the development of surface lasers, making them more compact and energy-efficient for communications and computing applications. The new BIC lasers could also be developed as high-power lasers for industrial and defense applications.

Can the 'greening' be greener? Posted: 11 Jan 2017 10:27 AM PST The EU introduced the new 'greening' instrument into the Common Agricultural Policy in 2015, with the intention to slow the rapid loss of biodiversity in agricultural areas. A group of scientists examined how effective the flagship greening measure called 'Ecological Focus Areas' actually is. Their conclusions are sobering: Ecological Focus Areas are implemented in a way that provides little benefit for biodiversity or farmers, and yet come at a high price to tax payers.

First look inside nanoscale catalysts shows 'defects' are useful Posted: 11 Jan 2017 10:27 AM PST Peering for the first time into the workings of tiny chemical catalysts, scientists observed that the 'defective' structure on their edges enhances their reactivity and effectiveness. This finding that could lead to the design of improved catalysts that make industrial chemical processes greener, by decreasing the amount of energy needed for chemical reactions, and preventing the formation of unwanted and potentially hazardous products.

new light shed on functioning of human gut bacteria Posted: 11 Jan 2017 10:27 AM PST Researchers shed new light on the functioning of human gut bacteria, revealing how nutrients are transported into the bacterial cell.

Gun violence in PG-13 movies continues to climb past R-rated films Posted: 11 Jan 2017 10:11 AM PST The amount of gun violence in top-grossing PG-13 movies has continued to exceed the gun violence in the biggest box-office R-rated films, an analysis shows. What increasingly differentiates the gun violence in PG-13 movies from those rated R is not just frequency but these films' 'erasure of the consequences' such as blood and suffering and the involvement of comic book-inspired heroes and antiheroes.

Superhero culture magnifies aggressive, not defending behaviors Posted: 11 Jan 2017 10:11 AM PST Children who frequently engage with superhero culture are more likely to be physically and relationally aggressive one year later and not more likely to be defenders of kids being picked on by bullies, new research concludes.

New therapeutic target against persistent viral infections Posted: 11 Jan 2017 10:11 AM PST Life is a question of balance, and the body is no exception. Expression levels of certain proteins can affect the immune system's ability to neutralize a virus. Type I interferons (IFN-I) are cytokines that were previously thought of as key contributors to the antiviral response, but emerging lines of evidence suggest that they may also participate in the establishment and maintenance of persistent viral infections.

Measuring how perovskite solar films efficiently convert light to power Posted: 11 Jan 2017 10:11 AM PST Researchers have directly shown that electrons generated when light strikes a well-oriented perovskite film are unrestricted by grain boundaries and travel long distances without deteriorating. Identification of this property, which is key to efficiently convert sunlight into electricity, could lead to more efficient solar panels.

Catching CRISPR in action: First all-atom simulation of genome editing in action Posted: 11 Jan 2017 10:11 AM PST Scientists have performed the first all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of Cas9-catalyzed DNA cleavage in action. The simulations shed light on the process of Cas9 genome editing and helped resolve controversies about specific aspects of the cutting.

DNA duplicator small enough to hold in your hand Posted: 11 Jan 2017 10:11 AM PST Engineers have developed a new method for duplicating DNA that makes devices small enough to hold in your hand that are capable of identifying infectious agents before symptoms appear.

High-sugar diet programs a short lifespan in flies Posted: 11 Jan 2017 10:08 AM PST Flies with a history of eating a high sugar diet live shorter lives, even after their diet improves. This is because the unhealthy diet drives long-term reprogramming of gene expression, according to a team of researchers.

National salt reduction strategy is cost-effective 'best buy' for 183 countries worldwide Posted: 11 Jan 2017 10:07 AM PST A new global study projects that a government-supported intervention to reduce national salt consumption by 10 percent over 10 years would be a highly cost-effective 'best buy' for preventing cardiovascular disease across 183 countries worldwide. Government-supported policy projected to be a highly cost-effective way to reduce salt consumption and gain healthy years lost to cardiovascular disease

High dietary red meat intake linked to common bowel condition diverticulitis Posted: 11 Jan 2017 09:28 AM PST Replacing one daily portion with poultry or fish may lower risk, findings suggest.

Walking the tightrope: The balance between helping patients now without risking the future Posted: 11 Jan 2017 08:53 AM PST Antibiotic use represents a special challenge, in which too much of a good thing can be dangerous to public health as a whole. The fight against a common, costly, hospital-acquired infection known as Clostridium difficile, or C. diff offers an illuminating case study in the area of so-called antibiotic stewardship.

Contrary to decades of hype, curcumin alone is unlikely to boost health Posted: 11 Jan 2017 08:08 AM PST Curcumin, a compound in turmeric, continues to be hailed as a natural treatment for a wide range of health conditions, including cancer and Alzheimer's disease. But a new review of the scientific literature on curcumin has found it's probably not all it's ground up to be. The report instead cites evidence that, contrary to numerous reports, the compound has limited -- if any -- therapeutic benefit.

Our galaxy's black hole is spewing out planet-size 'spitballs' Posted: 11 Jan 2017 08:08 AM PST Every few thousand years, an unlucky star wanders too close to the black hole at the center of the Milky Way. The black hole's powerful gravity rips the star apart, sending a long streamer of gas whipping outward. That would seem to be the end of the story, but it's not. New research shows that not only can the gas gather itself into planet-size objects, but those objects then are flung throughout the galaxy in a game of cosmic 'spitball.'

Farthest stars in Milky Way might be ripped from another galaxy Posted: 11 Jan 2017 08:08 AM PST The 11 farthest known stars in our galaxy are located about 300,000 light-years from Earth, well outside the Milky Way's spiral disk. New research shows that half of those stars might have been ripped from another galaxy: the Sagittarius dwarf. Moreover, they are members of a lengthy stream of stars extending one million light-years across space, or 10 times the width of our galaxy.

New type of monitoring provides information about the life of bacteria in microdroplets Posted: 11 Jan 2017 08:08 AM PST In the future, it will be possible to carry out tests of new drugs on bacteria much more efficiently using microfluidic devices, since each of the hundreds and thousands of droplets moving through the microchannels can act as separate incubators. So far, however, there has been no quick or accurate method of assessing the oxygen conditions in individual microdroplets.

Customers who receive genetic health data not alarmed by results, find information useful Posted: 11 Jan 2017 07:39 AM PST As consumers have been able to learn more about their genetic makeup in recent years through personal genomic testing, one big criticism has been that without someone to interpret it, the health information could be harmful to the receivers.

For men with prostate cancer, emotional distress may lead to more aggressive treatment Posted: 11 Jan 2017 07:39 AM PST The anxiety many men experience after being diagnosed with prostate cancer may lead them to choose potentially unnecessary treatment options, researchers report.