153 articles from WEDNESDAY 11.9.2019

Ccrystal structure of DNA-stabilized silver nanocluster

Nanoclusters are little 'heaps' of a few atoms that often have interesting optical properties and could become useful probes for imaging processes in areas such as biomedicine and diagnostics. Researchers have introduced a nanocluster of 16 silver atoms stabilized by a wrapping of DNA strands. Using X-ray analysis, they were able to determine the crystal structure and identify important...

Burying beetle larvae know the best time to beg for food

It's easy to imagine an adult bird standing over youngsters with mouths open wide for a pre-mashed meal. It's more difficult to picture a beetle doing this, but the burying beetle Nicrophorus quadripunctatus feeds its young by the same mouth-to-mouth regurgitation technique. Researchers found that burying beetle larvae can sense when the mother beetles emit a pheromone, 2-phenoxyethanol, when they...

'Planting water' is possible -- against aridity and droughts

Scientists have developed a mathematical model that can reflect the complex interplays between vegetation, soil and water regimes. They show, for example, that in beech forests water is increasingly cycled between soil and vegetation to increase evaporation to the atmosphere, while grass cover promotes groundwater recharge.

Discovering biological mechanisms enabling pianists to achieve skillful fingering

Researchers discovered a sensorimotor function integration mechanism that enables the skillful fingering of pianists. The group developed a system to produce tactile and proprioceptive sensation in the fingers with an electric current stimulator and an exoskeletal robot hand and developed an assessment system that evaluated the processing of each neural information in the cerebral cortex using...

Brain: How to optimize decision making?

Our brains are constantly faced with different choices. Why is it so difficult to make up our mind when faced with two or more choices? Neuroscientists have developed a mathematical model of the optimal choice strategy. They demonstrated that optimal decisions must be based not on the true value of the possible choices but on the difference in value between them.

Type 2 diabetes is not just about insulin

Obesity, by promoting the resistance to the action of insulin, is a major risk factor of diabetes. Insulin imbalance may not be the only cause of the onset of diabetes. Researchers have now highlighted another mechanism: the liver appears to have the ability to produce a significant amount of glucose outside of any hormonal signal. In patients with excess liver fat, this overproduction of glucose...

Scientists identify rare evolutionary intermediates to understand the origin of eukaryotes

A new study provides a key insight into a milestone event in the early evolution of life on Earth -- the origin of the cell nucleus and complex cells. Scientists peered deep inside current living cells, known as Archaea - the organisms that are believed to most closely resemble the ancient intermediates between bacteria and the more complex cells that we now know as eukaryotic cells.

Caregiver stress: The crucial, often unrecognized byproduct of chronic disease

There is growing evidence that caregivers of patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) are vulnerable to developing their own poor cardiovascular health. Investigators report on a proof-of-concept couples-based intervention in a cardiac rehabilitation setting. This intervention has shown potential for reducing caregiver distress, and future studies are evaluating its impact on both caregivers'...

Opioid treatment for teens? Medications can help

Teens who misuse prescription or illicit opioids might benefit from opioid treatment medications, according to a new study. An estimated 900 adolescents started to misuse opioid painkillers every day in 2017, and some of them turned to cheaper and more potent illegal opioids like heroin. Yet little is known about the effectiveness of opioid medications -- the recommended treatment for adults with...

Swapping pollinators reduces species diversity

Ecologists demonstrate that abandoning one pollinator for another to realize immediate benefits could compromise a flower's long-term survival. The research provides novel insights into fundamental biological processes that ultimately influence food security.