ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• New tests identify early changes in Alzheimer’s disease before symptoms appear
• Kids' TV teaching children wrong lessons about pain
• Vitamin D regulates calcium in intestine differently than previously thought
• New method sees fibers in 3D, uses it to estimate conductivity
• COVID-19 may deepen depression, anxiety, and PTSD among pregnant and postpartum women
• Glucosamine may reduce overall death rates as effectively as regular exercise, study suggests
• Geoscientists use zircon to trace origin of Earth's continents
• Researchers look to reduce rotorcraft noise
• Need to increase HPV vaccine uptake in adolescents
• Metabolism influences parasite's resistance to drugs
• How are older adults coping with the mental health effects of COVID-19?
• AI-based 'OxyGAN' is a robust, effective method to measure tissue oxygen levels
• False widow spiders bite can transmit harmful antibiotic-resistant bacteria
• Novel mechanisms that cause protein clumping in brain diseases
• Shrinking massive neural networks used to model language
• Researchers study influence of cultural factors on gesture design
• Seismic activity of New Zealand's alpine fault more complex than suspected
• Telomere shortening protects against cancer
• Statins can save lives; are they being used?
• Cost of planting, protecting trees to fight climate change could jump
• Molecular 'barcode' helps decide which sperm will reach an egg
• Scientists uncover the mysterious origin of canal grass in Panama
• CRISPR tagging improves accuracy of model cells grown from stem cells
• Scientists discover role of protein in detecting the common cold virus
• Why long-suffering hosts grow a thick skin
• Tweaking carotenoid genes helps tomatoes bring their A-game
• Next step in simulating the universe
• Drug reverses age-related mental decline within days, mouse study shows
• Ultrasensitive transistor for herbicide detection in water
• Octogenarian snapper found off Australia becomes oldest tropical reef fish by two decades
• Researchers develop customized targeting of bacteria using lysins
• Key molecules in brain development and neurodegenerative diseases identified
• Collision models impact the future of energy
• Climate change warms groundwater in Bavaria
• Hydrogen-powered heavy duty vehicles could contribute significantly to achieving climate goals
• New research reveals 'megatrends' that will affect forests in the next decade
• Chemical memory in plants affects chances of offspring survival
• Breaking the rules of chemistry unlocks new reaction
• AI reduces computational time required to study fate of molecules exposed to light
• Plants on aspirin
• Watching the Arctic thaw in fast-forward
• Drug development target for retinal dystrophies
• Meningococcus B vaccine prevents disease with 79 per cent effectiveness in under-18s
• Link found between drought and HIV among women in less-developed countries
• Is it better to give than receive?
• Producing ammonia with a much smaller carbon footprint
• Air pollution spikes linked to lower test scores for Salt Lake County third graders
• Post-COVID pain or weakness? Request an ultrasound or MRI
• Transportation of water into the deep Earth by Al-phase D
• National Autism Indicators Report: Health and health care of individuals with autism
• Repurposed mouse model sheds light on loss of smell in COVID-19
• Virus-like probes could help make rapid COVID-19 testing more accurate, reliable
• Children with dyslexia show stronger emotional responses
• Emergency department doctors ask: 'Where did all the patients go?'
• Older adults in wealthier countries drink more alcohol
• Warning signs over effectiveness of HIV 'wonder drug' in sub-Saharan Africa
• AI predicts which drug combinations kill cancer cells
• New device offers faster way to detect antibiotic-resistant bacteria
• Lab results don't explain 'obesity paradox,' but bias may
• 'Anti-antibiotic' allows for use of antibiotics without driving resistance

New tests identify early changes in Alzheimer’s disease before symptoms appear Posted: 01 Dec 2020 05:39 PM PST Researchers have found new forms of tau protein that become abnormal in the very early stages of Alzheimer's disease before cognitive problems develop. The scientists developed new tools to detect these subtle changes and confirmed their results in human samples.

Kids' TV teaching children wrong lessons about pain Posted: 01 Dec 2020 05:33 PM PST New analysis of children's TV and film suggests that too often it portrays pain as something arising only through violent act or injury when instead it could do more to educate young people about much more common, everyday pain.

Vitamin D regulates calcium in intestine differently than previously thought Posted: 01 Dec 2020 02:17 PM PST A new study has discovered that vitamin D regulates calcium in a section of the intestine that previously was thought not to have played a key role. The findings have important implications on how bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, may disrupt calcium regulation.

New method sees fibers in 3D, uses it to estimate conductivity Posted: 01 Dec 2020 02:17 PM PST Designing a vehicle that can drive away the heat that is generated around it when traveling at hypersonic speeds requires an understanding of the thermal properties of the materials used to construct it. A recent study developed a method to create 3D models of the fibers within composite materials then used that information to predict the thermal conductivity of the material.

COVID-19 may deepen depression, anxiety, and PTSD among pregnant and postpartum women Posted: 01 Dec 2020 02:17 PM PST In a new study, researchers surveyed pregnant women and those who had recently given birth, finding concerning rates of depression, generalized anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, which were found to be exacerbated by COVID-19-related grief and health worries.

Glucosamine may reduce overall death rates as effectively as regular exercise, study suggests Posted: 01 Dec 2020 02:17 PM PST Glucosamine supplements may reduce overall mortality about as well as regular exercise does, according to a new epidemiological study.

Geoscientists use zircon to trace origin of Earth's continents Posted: 01 Dec 2020 12:34 PM PST Geoscientists have long known that some parts of the continents formed in the Earth's deep past, but the speed in which land rose above global seas -- and the exact shapes that land masses formed -- have so far eluded experts.

Researchers look to reduce rotorcraft noise Posted: 01 Dec 2020 12:34 PM PST Imagine a silent helicopter stealthily moving troops and supplies around a future battlefield. U.S. Army researchers look to helicopter noise reduction technology as a top priority in aircraft design.

Need to increase HPV vaccine uptake in adolescents Posted: 01 Dec 2020 11:41 AM PST More than 90 percent of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers could be prevented by widespread uptake of the HPV vaccine. Yet, vaccine use in the United States falls short of public health goals.

Metabolism influences parasite's resistance to drugs Posted: 01 Dec 2020 11:40 AM PST New insight on how a parasite can resist current therapies has just been published.

How are older adults coping with the mental health effects of COVID-19? Posted: 01 Dec 2020 11:40 AM PST Recent studies indicate that older adults may be withstanding the mental health strains of the COVID-19 pandemic better than other age groups.

AI-based 'OxyGAN' is a robust, effective method to measure tissue oxygen levels Posted: 01 Dec 2020 11:40 AM PST Researchers have proposed an end-to-end technique for accurate calculation of tissue oxygenation from single snapshots, called OxyGAN.

False widow spiders bite can transmit harmful antibiotic-resistant bacteria Posted: 01 Dec 2020 11:40 AM PST A team of zoologists and microbiologists have published a new study showing that common house spiders carry bacteria susceptible to infect people, with the Noble False Widow spiders also carrying harmful strains resistant to common antibiotic treatments.

Novel mechanisms that cause protein clumping in brain diseases Posted: 01 Dec 2020 11:40 AM PST A team of researchers has taken a major step toward understanding the mechanisms involved in the formation of large clumps of tau protein, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease and several other neurodegenerative disorders.

Shrinking massive neural networks used to model language Posted: 01 Dec 2020 11:40 AM PST Deep learning neural networks can be massive, demanding major computing power. In a test of the 'lottery ticket hypothesis,' researchers have found leaner, more efficient subnetworks hidden within BERT models. The discovery could make natural language processing more accessible.

Researchers study influence of cultural factors on gesture design Posted: 01 Dec 2020 11:40 AM PST Freehand gesture-based interfaces in interactive systems are becoming more common, but what if your preferred way to gesture a command - say, changing the TV to channel 10 - significantly differed from that of a user from another culture? Would the system recognize your command? Researchers explored this question and found that some gesture choices are significantly influenced by the cultural backgrounds of participants.

Seismic activity of New Zealand's alpine fault more complex than suspected Posted: 01 Dec 2020 11:40 AM PST New evidence of a 19th century earthquake on New Zealand's Alpine fault suggests that in at least one portion of the fault, smaller earthquakes may occur in between such large rupture events.

Telomere shortening protects against cancer Posted: 01 Dec 2020 11:40 AM PST Researchers have found the first evidence that telomere shortening is not just a sign of aging, but a key component of the body's cancer prevention system.

Statins can save lives; are they being used? Posted: 01 Dec 2020 11:40 AM PST People who have coronary artery disease, stroke or peripheral artery disease often are prescribed a statin, a cholesterol-lowering drug that reduces the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Cost of planting, protecting trees to fight climate change could jump Posted: 01 Dec 2020 09:42 AM PST Planting trees and preventing deforestation are considered key climate change mitigation strategies, but a new analysis finds the cost of preserving and planting trees to hit certain global emissions reductions targets could accelerate quickly.

Molecular 'barcode' helps decide which sperm will reach an egg Posted: 01 Dec 2020 09:42 AM PST A protein called CatSper1 may act as a molecular 'barcode' that helps determine which sperm cells will make it to an egg and which are eliminated along the way.

Scientists uncover the mysterious origin of canal grass in Panama Posted: 01 Dec 2020 09:42 AM PST How did canal grass arrive in Panama? Scientists compared the DNA of sugar cane relatives from around the world to find out.

CRISPR tagging improves accuracy of model cells grown from stem cells Posted: 01 Dec 2020 09:42 AM PST CRISPR tags are being used to identify all of the transcription factors necessary to turn a pluripotent stem cell into a suitable adult cell for research, and possible future cell therapies. An article documents its use for making adult neuronal cells, but the technique could be applied to any cell type.

Scientists discover role of protein in detecting the common cold virus Posted: 01 Dec 2020 09:41 AM PST The role of a protein in detecting the common cold virus and kickstarting an immune response to fight infection has been uncovered by a team of scientists.

Why long-suffering hosts grow a thick skin Posted: 01 Dec 2020 09:41 AM PST Occasionally, following a transplant procedure, the donor's immune cells recognize the recipient's tissues as foreign and trigger a multisystem disorder called graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Occurring commonly after bone marrow or stem cell transplants performed to treat some blood cancers, GVHD may even follow solid organ transplants and is, in essence, the reverse of transplant rejection. Now, researchers have clarified the pathogenesis of the characteristic skin changes in chronic GVHD.

Tweaking carotenoid genes helps tomatoes bring their A-game Posted: 01 Dec 2020 09:41 AM PST Researchers led by the University of Tsukuba demonstrated that Target-AID gene editing technology can be used to simultaneously introduce single-base changes into multiple genes in tomatoes. Using this technique, the researchers altered three genes associated with carotenoid accumulation, resulting in elevated levels of carotenoids, particularly lycopene, in the resulting tomato lines. This technology will allow tomato breeders to introduce multiple advantageous gene changes into elite commercial cultivars, bypassing lengthy back-crossing steps between generations.

Next step in simulating the universe Posted: 01 Dec 2020 09:41 AM PST Researchers have developed a way to accurately represent the behavior of elementary particles called neutrinos in computer simulations of the Universe. The simulation results reveal the effects of neutrinos on the formation and growth of galaxies for different values of the uncertain neutrino mass. The work marks a milestone in simulating the Universe and could help determine the neutrino mass.

Drug reverses age-related mental decline within days, mouse study shows Posted: 01 Dec 2020 09:41 AM PST Just a few doses of an experimental drug can reverse age-related declines in memory and mental flexibility in mice, according to a new study. The drug, called ISRIB, has already been shown in laboratory studies to restore memory function months after traumatic brain injury (TBI), reverse cognitive impairments in Down Syndrome, prevent noise-related hearing loss, fight certain types of prostate cancer, and even enhance cognition in healthy animals.

Ultrasensitive transistor for herbicide detection in water Posted: 01 Dec 2020 09:41 AM PST Researchers have fabricated a tiny electronic sensor that can detect very low levels of a commonly used weed killer in drinking water.

Octogenarian snapper found off Australia becomes oldest tropical reef fish by two decades Posted: 01 Dec 2020 09:41 AM PST An 81-year-old midnight snapper caught off the coast of Western Australia has taken the title of the oldest tropical reef fish recorded anywhere in the world. The octogenarian fish was found at the Rowley Shoals -- about 300km west of Broome -- and was part of a study that has revised what we know about the longevity of tropical fish.

Researchers develop customized targeting of bacteria using lysins Posted: 01 Dec 2020 09:41 AM PST Researchers have developed a method to produce engineered lysins that can be used to selectively kill bacteria of interest while leaving others unharmed. The discovery presents a promising alternative to antibiotics for treating existing drug-resistant bacteria without the risk of causing resistance.

Key molecules in brain development and neurodegenerative diseases identified Posted: 01 Dec 2020 09:41 AM PST A research team uncovers the mechanism that regulates local expression of key molecules in brain development and neurodegenerative diseases.

Collision models impact the future of energy Posted: 01 Dec 2020 09:41 AM PST A new database of electron-molecule reactions is a major step forward in making nuclear fusion power a reality, by allowing researchers to accurately model plasmas containing molecular hydrogen.

Climate change warms groundwater in Bavaria Posted: 01 Dec 2020 09:41 AM PST Groundwater reservoirs in Bavaria have warmed considerably over the past few decades. A new study compares temperatures at 35 measuring stations, taken at different depths, with data from the 1990s. Water found at a depth of 20 meters was almost one degree warmer on average than 30 years ago.

Hydrogen-powered heavy duty vehicles could contribute significantly to achieving climate goals Posted: 01 Dec 2020 09:41 AM PST A partial transition of German road transport to hydrogen energy is among the possibilities being discussed to help meet national climate targets. Researcher have examined the hypothetical transition to a hydrogen-powered transport sector through several scenarios. Their conclusion: A shift towards hydrogen-powered mobility could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and greatly improve air quality - in particular, heavy duty vehicles represent a low-hanging fruit for decarbonization of German road transport.

New research reveals 'megatrends' that will affect forests in the next decade Posted: 01 Dec 2020 09:41 AM PST A group of experts from academic, governmental and international organisations have identified five large-scale 'megatrends' affecting forests and forest communities. These are likely to have major consequences - both positively and negatively - over the coming decade.

Chemical memory in plants affects chances of offspring survival Posted: 01 Dec 2020 09:41 AM PST Researchers have uncovered the mechanism that allows plants to pass on their 'memories' to offspring, which results in growth and developmental defects.

Breaking the rules of chemistry unlocks new reaction Posted: 01 Dec 2020 09:41 AM PST Scientists have broken the rules of enzyme engineering to unlock a new method for creating chemical reactions that could unlock a wide range of new applications -- from creating new drugs to food production.

AI reduces computational time required to study fate of molecules exposed to light Posted: 01 Dec 2020 09:41 AM PST Light-induced processes are critical in transformative technologies such as solar energy harvesting, as well as in photomedicine and photoresponsive materials. Theoretical studies of the dynamics of photoinduced processes require numerous electronic structure calculations, which are computationally expensive. Scientists developed machine learning-based algorithms, which reduce these computations significantly.

Plants on aspirin Posted: 01 Dec 2020 09:40 AM PST For centuries humans were using willow barks to treat a headache or an inflamed tooth. Later, the active ingredient, the plant hormone salicylic acid, was used to develop painkillers like Aspirin. But what happens, if plants are treated with these painkillers? By doing so, scientists discovered an unexpected bioactivity of human pharmaceuticals in plants.

Watching the Arctic thaw in fast-forward Posted: 01 Dec 2020 09:40 AM PST The frozen permafrost in the Arctic is thawing on an alarming scale. By analyzing an annual record of satellite images, researchers have now confirmed these findings: thermokarst lakes in Alaska are draining one by one because warmer and wetter conditions cause deeper thaw, effectively weakening frozen ground as a barrier around lakes. In the season 2017/2018, lake drainage was observed on a scale that scientists didn't expect until the end of the century.

Drug development target for retinal dystrophies Posted: 01 Dec 2020 09:40 AM PST Researchers report that deleting one of the inhibitors of the RPE65 gene in a mouse model that carries a human disease mutation prevents degeneration of cone photoreceptors that are used for daytime high-resolution color vision.

Meningococcus B vaccine prevents disease with 79 per cent effectiveness in under-18s Posted: 01 Dec 2020 09:40 AM PST Meningococcus group B, the most prevalent strain of meningococcal infection, is prevented with 79 per cent effectiveness in children and young adults inoculated with the 4CMenB vaccine, also known as Bexsero, according to a new collaborative study which evaluated the vaccine's performance in a real-world setting.

Link found between drought and HIV among women in less-developed countries Posted: 01 Dec 2020 09:39 AM PST Researchers explored the consequences of drought and lack of environmental resources on women in less-developed countries. The research shows the direct and indirect associations to women's percentage of HIV.

Is it better to give than receive? Posted: 01 Dec 2020 07:36 AM PST Young children who have experienced compassionate love and empathy from their mothers may be more willing to turn thoughts into action by being generous to others, a University of California, Davis, study suggests. Lab studies were done of children at ages 4 and 6.

Producing ammonia with a much smaller carbon footprint Posted: 01 Dec 2020 07:36 AM PST Researchers describe a new process to produce ammonia with a potentially much lower carbon footprint.

Air pollution spikes linked to lower test scores for Salt Lake County third graders Posted: 01 Dec 2020 07:36 AM PST More frequent exposure to air pollution spikes were associated with reduced test scores for third graders in Salt Lake County. Schools with a higher proportion of students of color and from households experiencing poverty were exposed to more peak pollution days than were schools serving middle- to upper- class and predominately white students. The results stress the need for legislators to enact policies to reduce the number of peak pollution days.

Post-COVID pain or weakness? Request an ultrasound or MRI Posted: 01 Dec 2020 07:36 AM PST A new study shows how advanced imaging technology can pinpoint what may have caused patients' nerve damage and help determine the best course of treatment.

Transportation of water into the deep Earth by Al-phase D Posted: 01 Dec 2020 07:36 AM PST Researchers have recently measured the propagation speed of ultrasonic waves in an aluminum-rich hydrous mineral called Al-phase D at pressure conditions relevant to the Earth's deep mantle. Their results suggest that seismic shear anomalies observed locally beneath subduction zones may reveal the presence of hydrous minerals in the uppermost lower mantle, which would have important implications for the Earth's interior because hydrogen affects considerably the physical and chemical properties of mantle minerals.

National Autism Indicators Report: Health and health care of individuals with autism Posted: 01 Dec 2020 07:36 AM PST Researchers highlight a holistic picture of what health and health care look like across the life course for people on the autism spectrum.

Repurposed mouse model sheds light on loss of smell in COVID-19 Posted: 01 Dec 2020 07:36 AM PST A repurposed mouse model can develop symptoms of both severe COVID-19 (lung damage, blood clots, abnormal blood vessels, and death) and also of milder disease, including loss of the sense of smell, according to a recent study.

Virus-like probes could help make rapid COVID-19 testing more accurate, reliable Posted: 01 Dec 2020 07:36 AM PST Nanoengineers have developed new and improved probes, known as positive controls, that could make it easier to validate rapid, point-of-care diagnostic tests for COVID-19 across the globe. The advance could help expand testing to low-resource, underserved areas.

Children with dyslexia show stronger emotional responses Posted: 01 Dec 2020 07:36 AM PST Children diagnosed with dyslexia show greater emotional reactivity than children without dyslexia, according to a new collaborative study.

Emergency department doctors ask: 'Where did all the patients go?' Posted: 01 Dec 2020 06:18 AM PST Despite a surge in COVID-19 cases, emergency department visits declined by nearly a third in five Boston-area hospitals during the early days of the pandemic.

Older adults in wealthier countries drink more alcohol Posted: 01 Dec 2020 06:18 AM PST A new global study finds older people in wealthy countries consume more alcohol than their counterparts in middle-income countries, on average, although a higher cost of alcohol is associated with less frequent drinking. Across counties, people drink less as they get older, but at different rates and starting points.

Warning signs over effectiveness of HIV 'wonder drug' in sub-Saharan Africa Posted: 01 Dec 2020 05:48 AM PST Dolutegravir, the current first-line treatment for HIV, may not be as effective as hoped in sub-Saharan Africa, suggests new research published on World AIDS Day. The study finds that this so-called 'wonder drug' may be less effective in patients resistant to older drugs.

AI predicts which drug combinations kill cancer cells Posted: 01 Dec 2020 05:48 AM PST A machine learning model can help us treat cancer more effectively.

New device offers faster way to detect antibiotic-resistant bacteria Posted: 01 Dec 2020 05:47 AM PST A new device for faster testing of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has been developed.

Lab results don't explain 'obesity paradox,' but bias may Posted: 01 Dec 2020 05:47 AM PST Results of standard laboratory tests performed on adult outpatients to provide an overall picture of their health are fairly consistent between those with obesity and their leaner counterparts, investigators report.

'Anti-antibiotic' allows for use of antibiotics without driving resistance Posted: 01 Dec 2020 05:47 AM PST An inexpensive, FDA-approved drug -- cholestyramine -- taken in conjunction with an antibiotic prevents the antibiotic from driving antimicrobial resistance, according to new research.

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