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ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Gaming your brain to treat depression
• Nanowire 'inks' enable paper-based printable electronics
• Songbirds divorce, flee, fail to reproduce due to suburban sprawl
• Stuttering linked to reduced blood flow in area of brain associated with language
• Research on sweat glands suggests a route to better skin grafts
• New global evidence of the role of humans, urbanization in rapid evolution
• Will climate change leave tropical birds hung out to dry?
• Childhood poverty can rob adults of psychological health
• Vaccine shows promising results for early-stage breast cancer patients
• Deeper than obesity: A majority of people is now overfat
• How to 3-D print your own sonic tractor beam
• Economics made simple with physics models
• Tiny laser created using nanoparticles
• Inflammation halts fat-burning
• Streamlining the Internet of Things and other cyber-physical systems
• More extreme storms ahead for California
• Common antioxidant may guard against liver disease
• Quantum simulation technique yields topological soliton state in SSH model
• Probing ways to turn cement's weakness to strength
• Ticks that carry Lyme disease found in Eastern US national parks
• Using immune cells to deliver anti-cancer drugs
• Parents’ presence when TV viewing with child affects learning ability
• Scientists turn memory chips into processors to speed up computing tasks
• Chemically modified insulin is available more quickly
• Random access memory on a low energy diet
• Frequency of flight-disrupting volcanic eruptions estimated
• Gambling addiction triggers the same brain areas as drug and alcohol cravings
• The beating heart of solar energy
• The enzyme that makes physical activity healthy: AMPK
• Think chicken: Think intelligent, caring and complex
• Infant's prolonged infection reveals mutation that helps bacteria tolerate antibiotics
• Why odds are against a large Zika outbreak in the US
• Zinc eaten at levels found in biofortified crops reduces 'wear and tear' on DNA
• Genes affecting our communication skills relate to genes for schizophrenia and autism
• Sex hormone-sensitive gene complex linked to premenstrual mood disorder
• Detecting misinformation can improve memory later on
• Bats avoid collisions by calling less in a crowd
• A social reboot for illegal downloaders
• Maternal depression across the first years of life impacts children’s neural basis of empathy
• From photosynthesis to new compounds for eye diseases
• A closer look at the eye: New retinal imaging technique

Gaming your brain to treat depression Posted: 03 Jan 2017 07:27 PM PST Researchers have found promising results for treating depression with a video game interface that targets underlying cognitive issues associated with depression rather than just managing the symptoms.

Nanowire 'inks' enable paper-based printable electronics Posted: 03 Jan 2017 07:26 PM PST Thin films made from silver nanowires are 4,000 times more conductive than films made from other nanoparticle shapes, like spheres or microflakes, says a new study. The results indicate that conductive 'inks' made from silver nanowires may create functioning electronic circuits without applying high temperatures, enabling printable electronics on heat-sensitive materials like paper or plastic.

Songbirds divorce, flee, fail to reproduce due to suburban sprawl Posted: 03 Jan 2017 07:26 PM PST New research finds that for some songbirds, urban sprawl is kicking them out of their territory, forcing divorce and stunting their ability to find new mates and reproduce successfully, even after relocating.

Stuttering linked to reduced blood flow in area of brain associated with language Posted: 03 Jan 2017 01:23 PM PST A new study demonstrates that regional cerebral blood flow is reduced in the Broca's area -- the region in the frontal lobe of the brain linked to speech production -- in persons who stutter. More severe stuttering is associated with even greater reductions in blood flow to this region.

Research on sweat glands suggests a route to better skin grafts Posted: 03 Jan 2017 01:23 PM PST Scientists have discovered the signaling pathways that help hair follicles and sweat glands form during development, and identified the mechanism that allows both of these features to coexist in human skin. The findings may improve the methods used to grow tissue used in grafting procedures.

New global evidence of the role of humans, urbanization in rapid evolution Posted: 03 Jan 2017 12:25 PM PST A new study that examines 1,600 global instances of phenotypic change -- alterations to species' observable traits such as size, development or behavior -- shows more clearly than ever that urbanization is affecting the genetic makeup of species that are crucial to ecosystem health and success.

Will climate change leave tropical birds hung out to dry? Posted: 03 Jan 2017 10:44 AM PST The future of the red-capped manakin and other tropical birds in Panama looks bleak. A research project spanning more than three decades and simulating another five decades analyzes how changes in rainfall will affect bird populations. The results show that for 19 of the 20 species included in the study, there may be significantly fewer birds if conditions become dryer.

Childhood poverty can rob adults of psychological health Posted: 03 Jan 2017 10:43 AM PST A large and growing body of research shows that poor kids grow up to have a host of physical problems as adults.

Vaccine shows promising results for early-stage breast cancer patients Posted: 03 Jan 2017 09:23 AM PST Immunotherapy is a fast growing area of cancer research. It involves developing therapies that use a patient's own immune system to fight and kill cancer. Medical researchers are working on a new vaccine that would help early-stage breast cancer patients who have HER2 positive disease.

Deeper than obesity: A majority of people is now overfat Posted: 03 Jan 2017 09:23 AM PST Researchers put forth the notion of overfat, a condition of having sufficient excess body fat to impair health. After review of current data and scientific studies they argue how, in addition to most of those who are overweight and obese, others falling into the overfat category include normal-weight people with characteristic risk factors for chronic and metabolic disease. This is the first effort to globally quantify those who are overfat versus overweight or obese.

How to 3-D print your own sonic tractor beam Posted: 03 Jan 2017 09:23 AM PST After demonstrating the first acoustically driven tractor beam platform, researchers develop a simpler, cheaper version using 3-D printable parts and open-source electronic components for the maker community.

Economics made simple with physics models Posted: 03 Jan 2017 09:23 AM PST Both physical and economic phenomena may possess universal features that could be uncovered using the tools of physics. The principal difference is that in economic systems -- unlike physical ones -- current actions may be influenced by the perception of future events. The latest issue of EPJ Special Topics examines the question as to whether econophysics, a physics-based approach to understanding economic phenomena, is more useful and desirable than conventional economics theories.

Tiny laser created using nanoparticles Posted: 03 Jan 2017 09:23 AM PST Researchers have developed a plasmonic nanolaser that operates at visible light frequencies and uses so-called dark lattice modes.

Inflammation halts fat-burning Posted: 03 Jan 2017 09:23 AM PST Scientists have shown in mice that excess pounds can simply be melted away by converting unwanted white fat cells into energy-consuming brown slimming cells. In a recent study, the university researchers show why the inflammatory responses that often occur in overweight people block this kind of fat cell conversion.

Streamlining the Internet of Things and other cyber-physical systems Posted: 03 Jan 2017 09:23 AM PST Computer engineers have laid out a framework to improve research on cyber-physical systems. They encourage combining model-based design with data-based learning: in other words, merge two existing paradigms into one practice.

More extreme storms ahead for California Posted: 03 Jan 2017 09:23 AM PST Scientists have found that extreme precipitation events in California should become more frequent as the Earth's climate warms over this century. The researchers developed a new technique that predicts the frequency of local, extreme rainfall events by identifying telltale large-scale patterns in atmospheric data.

Common antioxidant may guard against liver disease Posted: 03 Jan 2017 09:23 AM PST A common antioxidant found in human breast milk and foods like kiwi fruit can protect against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the offspring of obese mice.

Quantum simulation technique yields topological soliton state in SSH model Posted: 03 Jan 2017 09:23 AM PST Using atomic quantum-simulation, an experimental technique involving finely tuned lasers and ultracold atoms about a billion times colder than room temperature to replicate the properties of a topological insulator, a team of researchers has directly observed for the first time the protected boundary state of the topological insulator trans-polyacetylene. The transport properties of this organic polymer are typical of topological insulators and of the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model.

Probing ways to turn cement's weakness to strength Posted: 03 Jan 2017 09:23 AM PST Scientists show how cement particles can handle stress by gradually passing it from one layer to the next and turning weakness to strength.

Ticks that carry Lyme disease found in Eastern US national parks Posted: 03 Jan 2017 09:22 AM PST Lyme disease has been spreading across the United States over the past several decades, and a new study has confirmed that ticks carrying the disease are present in eastern national parks.

Using immune cells to deliver anti-cancer drugs Posted: 03 Jan 2017 09:22 AM PST Biomedical engineers have created a smart, targeted drug delivery system using immune cells to attack cancers.

Parents’ presence when TV viewing with child affects learning ability Posted: 03 Jan 2017 07:30 AM PST A study shows an increased physiological change in children when parents view programs with them as opposed to being in a separate room.

Scientists turn memory chips into processors to speed up computing tasks Posted: 03 Jan 2017 07:18 AM PST A team of international scientists have found a way to make memory chips perform computing tasks.

Chemically modified insulin is available more quickly Posted: 03 Jan 2017 07:18 AM PST Replacing a hydrogen atom by an iodine atom in insulin, the hormone retains its efficacy but is available more rapidly to the organism. Researchers were able to predict this effect based on computer simulations and then confirm it with experiments.

Random access memory on a low energy diet Posted: 03 Jan 2017 07:18 AM PST Memory chips are among the most basic components in computers. The random access memory is where processors temporarily store their data, which is a crucial function. Researchers have now managed to lay the foundation for a new memory chip concept. It has the potential to use considerably less energy than the chips produced to date -- this is important not only for mobile applications but also for big data computing centers.

Frequency of flight-disrupting volcanic eruptions estimated Posted: 03 Jan 2017 07:17 AM PST Holidaymakers concerned about fresh volcanic eruptions causing flight-disrupting ash clouds across Northern Europe might be reassured by a study setting out the first reliable estimates of their frequency.

Gambling addiction triggers the same brain areas as drug and alcohol cravings Posted: 03 Jan 2017 07:17 AM PST Gambling addiction activates the same brain pathways as drug and alcohol cravings, suggests new research.

The beating heart of solar energy Posted: 03 Jan 2017 07:17 AM PST Using solar cells placed under the skin to continuously recharge implanted electronic medical devices is a viable one. Swiss researchers have done the math, and found that a 3.6 square centimeter solar cell is all that is needed to generate enough power during winter and summer to power a typical pacemaker.

The enzyme that makes physical activity healthy: AMPK Posted: 03 Jan 2017 06:20 AM PST Physical activity benefits diabetics and others with insulin resistance. One of the reasons is that a single bout of physical activity increases the effectiveness of insulin. Thus, physical activity helps to reduce the risk of developing diabetes, while also reducing the effects of diabetes if it does set in. Until now, no one has understood the underlying mechanism of this phenomenon.

Think chicken: Think intelligent, caring and complex Posted: 03 Jan 2017 06:19 AM PST Chickens are not as clueless or 'bird-brained' as people believe them to be. They have distinct personalities and can outmaneuver one another. They know their place in the pecking order, and can reason by deduction, which is an ability that humans develop by the age of seven. Chicken intelligence is therefore unnecessarily underestimated and overshadowed by other avian groups.

Infant's prolonged infection reveals mutation that helps bacteria tolerate antibiotics Posted: 03 Jan 2017 06:19 AM PST A life-threatening infection in an infant with leukemia led to a discovery of how prolonged infection sets the stage for bacterial persistence despite antibiotic susceptibility.

Why odds are against a large Zika outbreak in the US Posted: 03 Jan 2017 05:46 AM PST Is the United States at risk for a large-scale outbreak of Zika or other mosquito-borne disease? While climate conditions in the US are increasingly favorable to mosquitos, socioeconomic factors such as access to clean water and air conditioning make large-scale outbreaks unlikely, according to new analysis of existing research -- but small-scale, localized outbreaks are an ongoing concern.

Zinc eaten at levels found in biofortified crops reduces 'wear and tear' on DNA Posted: 03 Jan 2017 05:46 AM PST A new study shows that a modest 4 milligrams of extra zinc a day in the diet can have a profound, positive impact on cellular health that helps fight infections and diseases. This amount of zinc is equivalent to what biofortified crops like zinc rice and zinc wheat can add to the diet of vulnerable, nutrient deficient populations.

Genes affecting our communication skills relate to genes for schizophrenia and autism Posted: 03 Jan 2017 05:46 AM PST By screening thousands of individuals, an international team led by researchers has provided new insights into the relationship between genes that confer risk for autism or schizophrenia and genes that influence our ability to communicate during the course of development.

Sex hormone-sensitive gene complex linked to premenstrual mood disorder Posted: 03 Jan 2017 05:46 AM PST Researchers have discovered molecular mechanisms that may underlie a woman's susceptibility to disabling irritability, sadness, and anxiety in the days leading up to her menstrual period. In women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), they found dysregulated expression in a sex hormone-responsive gene complex which adds to evidence that PMDD is a disorder of cellular response to estrogen and progesterone.

Detecting misinformation can improve memory later on Posted: 03 Jan 2017 05:46 AM PST Exposure to false information about an event usually makes it more difficult for people to recall the original details, but new research suggests that there may be times when misinformation actually boosts memory. Research shows that people who actually notice that the misinformation is inconsistent with the original event have better memory for the event compared with people who never saw the misinformation in the first place.

Bats avoid collisions by calling less in a crowd Posted: 03 Jan 2017 05:44 AM PST In the warm summer months, bats go about their business each night, flying and gobbling up insects (a benefit to us). Using echolocation (making calls and listening for returning echoes to figure out where objects are) they can hunt and navigate around obstacles in total darkness, often in large groups. But if everybody is echolocating at once, how do bats pick out their own echoes?

A social reboot for illegal downloaders Posted: 03 Jan 2017 05:43 AM PST Unauthorized downloading of digital goods, including copyright music, videos, computer games, and images has become an increasing problem for content providers and those who hold the copyright on such goods and expect remuneration for distribution. A new research study suggests that content providers must take a pragmatic view based on social consensus to persuade illicit downloaders that their behavior is economically and ethically unacceptable behavior among their peer group or other social group to which they belong.

Maternal depression across the first years of life impacts children’s neural basis of empathy Posted: 03 Jan 2017 05:43 AM PST Exposure to early and chronic maternal depression markedly increases a child’s susceptibility to psychopathology and social-emotional problems, including social withdrawal, poor emotion regulation, and reduced empathy to others. Since 15-18% of women in industrial societies and up to 30% in developing countries suffer from maternal depression, it is of clinical and public health concern to understand the effects of maternal depression on children’s development.

From photosynthesis to new compounds for eye diseases Posted: 03 Jan 2017 05:42 AM PST Researchers have succeeded in using X-rays to minutely observe a photosynthesis reaction and produce a movie of the event. The findings will aid understanding of similar processes in the human eye.

A closer look at the eye: New retinal imaging technique Posted: 02 Jan 2017 12:50 PM PST Researchers have developed a new imaging technique that allowed the first glimpse of individual cells in the retina, a layer of tissue at the back of the eye. The new technique could allow earlier diagnosis and treatment for diseases like glaucoma and prevent vision loss caused by death of these retinal cells.

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