ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Do wearable lifestyle activity monitors really work?

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 03:22 PM PDT

Wearable electronic activity monitors hold great promise in helping people to reach their wellness goals. These increasingly sophisticated devices help the wearers improve their wellness by constantly monitoring their activities and bodily responses through companion computer programs and mobile apps. Given the large market for these devices, researchers analyzed 13 of these devices to compare how the devices and their apps work to motivate the wearer.

Boosting global corn yields depends on improving nutrient balance

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 03:22 PM PDT

Ensuring that corn absorbs the right balance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is crucial to increasing global yields, a study finds. A review of data from more than 150 studies from the U.S. and other regions showed that high yields were linked to production systems in which corn plants took up key nutrients at specific ratios -- nitrogen and phosphorus at a ratio of 5-to-1 and nitrogen and potassium at a ratio of 1-to-1. These nutrient uptake ratios were associated with high yields regardless of the region where the corn was grown.

Novel capability enables first test of real turbine engine conditions

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 03:19 PM PDT

Manufactures of turbine engines for airplanes, automobiles and electric generation plants could expedite the development of more durable, energy-efficient turbine blades thanks to a new partnership. The ability to operate turbine blades at higher temperatures improves efficiency and reduces energy costs.

Study identifies when and how much various prostate cancer treatments will impact urinary and sexual functioning

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 01:25 PM PDT

Men with prostate cancer may one day be able to predict when and how much various treatments will impact their urinary and sexual functioning, thanks in part to new findings.

Personal news cycle of African American and Hispanic news consumers

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 01:24 PM PDT

A new national survey exploring how African Americans and Hispanics get their news reveals that the predicted digital divide, in which people of color would be left behind in the use of technology, is not playing out as many of those forecasting the digital future anticipated. The survey findings suggest a divide based on content, not technology.

Healthy humans make nice homes for viruses

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 01:24 PM PDT

The same viruses that make us sick can take up residence in and on the human body without provoking a sneeze, cough or other troublesome symptom, according to new research. On average, healthy individuals carry about five types of viruses on their bodies, the researchers report. The study is the first comprehensive analysis to describe the diversity of viruses in healthy people.

Lifesaving protocol for school children with severe allergies developed

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 12:52 PM PDT

As the number of children with food allergies in the U.S. increases, so does the risk of children having a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis on school campuses. School nurses often have treatment plans in place for students with diagnosed allergies, but many children have their first allergic reactions at school, where a specific medication, such as EpiPen epinephrine injectors, may not be available and a response protocol may not be in place.

Intravascular ultrasound-guided intervention in patients with chronic total occlusion

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 12:52 PM PDT

A new study found that intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided intervention in patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO) could improve outcomes compared to a conventional angiography-guided approach during percutaneous coronary intervention. The IVUS-CTO study is the first randomized trial to examine the clinical impact of IVUS guidance for CTO intervention.

Optical coherence tomography in primary percutaneous coronary intervention

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 12:52 PM PDT

The first randomized trial to examine serial optical coherence tomography in primary percutaneous coronary intervention was reported today.

Nanoribbon film keeps glass ice-free

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 12:52 PM PDT

Scientists who created a deicing film for radar domes have now refined the technology to work as a transparent coating for glass. The new work could keep glass surfaces from windshields to skyscrapers free of ice and fog while retaining their transparency to radio frequencies (RF).

Don't underestimate your mind's eye: Objects don't need to be seen to impact decision-making

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 11:28 AM PDT

Objects in our visual environment needn't be seen in order to impact decision making, according to new research. Take a look around, and what do you see? Much more than you think you do, thanks to your finely tuned mind's eye, which processes images without your even knowing.

Computerized emotion detector

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 11:15 AM PDT

Face recognition software measures various parameters in a mug shot, such as the distance between the person's eyes, the height from lip to top of their nose and various other metrics and then compares it with photos of people in the database that have been tagged with a given name. Now, new research looks to take that one step further in recognizing the emotion portrayed by a face.

The genetics of coping with HIV

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 11:15 AM PDT

We respond to infections in two fundamental ways. One is 'resistance,' where the body attacks the invading pathogen and reduces its numbers. Another, which is much less well understood, is 'tolerance,' where the body tries to minimize the damage done by the pathogen. A study using data from a large Swiss cohort of HIV-infected individuals gives us a glimpse into why some people cope with HIV better than others.

Impact that doomed the dinosaurs helped the forests bloom

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 11:15 AM PDT

Some 66 million years ago, a 10-km diameter chunk of rock hit the Yucatan peninsula with the force of 100 teratons of TNT. It left a crater more than 150 km across, and the resulting megatsunami, wildfires, global earthquakes and volcanism are widely accepted to have wiped out the dinosaurs and made way for the rise of the mammals. But what happened to the plants on which the dinosaurs fed?

Meteorite that doomed dinosaurs remade forests

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 11:15 AM PDT

The impact decimated slow-growing evergreens and made way for fast-growing, deciduous plants, according to a study applying biomechanical analyses to fossilized leaves. The study provides much-needed evidence for how the extinction event unfolded in the plant communities at the time.

Access to female-controlled contraception needed in intimate partner violence

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 11:15 AM PDT

Access to female-controlled contraceptive methods must be improved in order to help women and girls to counteract any risks to their reproductive health caused by intimate partner violence and reproductive coercion, according to experts.

World Health Organization policy improves use of medicines

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 11:15 AM PDT

Medical researchers evaluated data on reported adherence to World Health Organization essential medicines practices and measures of quality use of medicines from 56 low and middle income countries for 2002-2008. They compared the countries' government-reported implementation of 36 essential medicines policies with independent survey results for 10 validated indicators of quality use of medicines.

Study on global carbon cycle may require reappraisal of climate events in Earth's history

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 10:25 AM PDT

A recent study of the global carbon cycle offers a new perspective of Earth's climate records through time. Scientists suggest that one of the current methods for interpreting ancient changes in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and oceans may need to be re-evaluated.

First water-based nuclear battery can be used to generate electrical energy

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 10:25 AM PDT

For the first time using a water-based solution, researchers have created a long-lasting and more efficient nuclear battery that could be used for many applications such as a reliable energy source in automobiles and also in complicated applications such as space flight.

Slowed processing speed linked with executive deficits in multiple sclerosis

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 10:25 AM PDT

A new study supports the role of slowed processing speed in the executive deficits found in individuals with multiple sclerosis. Following this study, experts say that MS cognitive research should focus on two key domains -- processing speed and memory.

Scientists twist radio beams to send data: Transmissions reach speeds of 32 gigibits per second

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 10:25 AM PDT

Researchers twist four radio beams together to achieve high data transmission speeds. The researchers reached data transmission rates of 32 gigabits per second across 2.5 meters of free space in a basement lab. For reference, 32 gigabits per second is fast enough to transmit more than 10 hour-and-a-half-long HD movies in one second and is 30 times faster than LTE wireless.

Tornadoes occurring earlier in 'Tornado Alley'

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 10:25 AM PDT

Peak tornado activity in the central and southern Great Plains is occurring up to two weeks earlier than it did half a century ago.

Patients waiting too long to see the doctor? Try 'just-in-time' management methods, researchers urge

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 10:23 AM PDT

Using a pain clinic as a testing ground, researchers have shown that a management process first popularized by Toyota in Japan can substantially reduce patient wait times and possibly improve the teaching of interns and residents.

From sea to shining sea, politics divide coastal residents' views of environment

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 09:37 AM PDT

From the salmon-rich waters of Southeast Alaska to the white sand beaches of Florida's Gulf Coast to Downeast Maine's lobster, lumber and tourist towns, coastal residents around the US share a common characteristic: their views about coastal environments divide along political lines.

For electronics beyond silicon, a new contender emerges

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 09:37 AM PDT

Using a quantum material called a correlated oxide, researchers have achieved a reversible change in electrical resistance of eight orders of magnitude, a result the researchers are calling 'colossal.' In short, they have engineered this material to perform comparably with the best silicon switches.

Camera sheds light on mate choice of swordtail fish

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 09:36 AM PDT

We have all seen a peacock show its extravagant, colorful tail feathers in courtship of a peahen. Now, a group of researchers has used a special camera to discover that female northern swordtail fish choose their mates based on a similar display.

Reducing pesticides, adding sound vibrations and boosting harvests

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 09:29 AM PDT

Scientists are experimenting with sound vibrations to replace pesticides. Adapting different eco-friendly methods they are able to boost harvests and open up a new chapter in sustainable farming.

Ebola outbreak 'out of all proportion' and severity cannot be predicated, expert says

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 09:29 AM PDT

A mathematical model that replicates Ebola outbreaks can no longer be used to ascertain the eventual scale of the current epidemic, finds new research.

'Compassionate use' and other means of accessing unproven, unapproved treatments could impact long-term medical benefits

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 09:28 AM PDT

Patients facing death or irreversible disease progression -– most of whom have exhausted all approved treatment options -- sometimes seek access to unapproved and unproven interventions. This type of access, often referred to as "compassionate use," is unregulated by federal authorities, subject to corporate pharmaceutical policies that change mid-stream, and could potentially adversely affect clinical care in the future, according to preliminary studies.

Patients who never smoked or who quit smoking have lower risk of developing secondary cancers

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:29 AM PDT

Non-small cell lung cancer survivors who never smoked or who are former smokers at the time of diagnosis have a lower risk of developing secondary primary lung cancers compared to those who are current smokers, suggesting that increased tobacco exposure is associated with a higher risk of SPLC, according to new research.

New gene research helps pinpoint prostate cancer risk

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:22 AM PDT

A consortia of research hubs around the world encompassing 150 researchers has analysed more than 10 million genetic markers in 80,000 men with prostate cancer. "We now have 100 genetic regions and no other cancer has had this many loci identified to be associated with it. What we are looking for is the combination effect of how these loci work together and how much they can explain the heritability of prostate cancer," one researcher explained.

Forgotten ghost ships off Golden Gate revealed

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:22 AM PDT

Researchers confirmed the discovery just outside San Francisco's Golden Gate strait of the 1910 shipwreck SS Selja and an unidentified early steam tugboat wreck tagged the 'mystery wreck.' The researchers also located the 1863 wreck of the clipper ship Noonday, currently obscured by mud and silt on the ocean floor.

How learning to talk is in the genes

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:22 AM PDT

Researchers have found evidence that genetic factors may contribute to the development of language during infancy. Scientists discovered a significant link between genetic changes near the ROBO2 gene and the number of words spoken by children in the early stages of language development.

Human faces are so variable because we evolved to look unique

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:22 AM PDT

Why are human faces so variable compared to other animals, from lizards and penguins to dogs and monkeys? Scientists analyzed human faces and the genes that code for facial features and found a high variability that could only be explained by selection for variable faces, probably because of the importance of social interactions in human relationships and the need for humans to be recognizable.

Scottish people most sceptical on fracking, survey shows

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:20 AM PDT

If Scotland votes for independence later this week, its Government could face an uphill challenge in persuading the Scottish people that fracking is necessary, research has revealed.

Scientists create therapy-grade stem cells using new cocktail to reprogram adult cells

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:19 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a new cocktail that's highly effective at coaxing adult cells to become quality pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Using a new combination of reprogramming factors, they produced a higher quality result than the traditional formula. The new mix delivers fewer colonies of iPSCs, but 80% of them pass the toughest pluripotency test.

Can consumers use an easy trick to extend wonderful experiences, shorten bad ones?

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:19 AM PDT

Many experiences rarely seem to last the right amount of time. Vacations feel too short, meetings seem too long, and bad dates never seem to end. A new study finds that simply categorizing experiences can help consumers extend good experiences and shorten the bad ones.

Why are consumers willing to spend more money on ethical products?

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:19 AM PDT

What motivates consumers to make ethical choices such as buying clothing not made in a sweat shop, spending more money on fair-trade coffee, and bringing their own bags when they go shopping? According to a new study, ethical consumption is motivated by a need for consumers to turn their emotions about unethical practices into action.

Do you always get what you pay for? How consumers mispredict product quality

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:19 AM PDT

Consumers are willing to spend thousands of dollars for luxury brand watches such as Rolex and Cartier because they are synonymous with high quality. But does this mean that inexpensive watches made by low-cost rivals must always be low quality? According to a new study, consumers mistakenly predict product quality based on quality consistency in other price ranges.

Do ads showing sexy women make male consumers less charitable?

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:18 AM PDT

What happens when you use images of sexy women to attract men's attention? According to a new study, male consumers who are shown images of sexy women feel less connected to other people and are less likely to purchase products advertised as benefiting others or make charitable contributions.

Gene variant that dramatically reduces 'bad' lipids: Role of rare APOC3 variant in reducing triglyceride levels identified

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:18 AM PDT

A rare genetic variant that dramatically reduces levels of certain types of lipids in the blood has been identified in through a study that used data collected from around 4,000 healthy people in the UK. The study is the first to emerge from the UK10K Project's cohort of samples from the general public and demonstrates the power of whole genome sequencing at scale.

Chemotherapy and stereotactic ablative radiation consecutively may be promising for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:17 AM PDT

For patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer, the combination of chemotherapy and stereotactic ablative radiation may be a promising treatment option, ultimately allowing them to undergo surgery that may not otherwise be an option, according to new research.

Mobility in cancer patients with malignant spinal cord compression

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:17 AM PDT

Mobility is equally preserved in cancer patients suffering from malignant spinal cord compression (MSCC) who receive a single dose of 10 Gy of radiation therapy (RT), compared to patients who receive five daily doses of 4 Gy of RT each, according to new research.

The benefits and dangers of supplements

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:17 AM PDT

From multivitamins to supplements that pledge to help with everything from depression to treating athlete's foot, whole stores are filled with these alternative medications. With so many options out there it can be difficult for patients to know what is beneficial or even where to start.

Patients with inoperable, early-stage lung cancer who receive stereotactic body radiation therapy have 40% five-year survival rate

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:17 AM PDT

Patients with inoperable, early-stage lung cancer who receive stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) have a five-year survival rate of 40 percent, according to new research.

Endocrine-related protein found to be master regulator in other important diseases

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:17 AM PDT

Investigating a protein known to influence human glucose levels, scientists found that this factor has a broader reach than first thought, acting on key gene pathways involved in cardiovascular, neuropsychiatric, and cancer-related diseases.

Improved means of detecting mismatched DNA

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:17 AM PDT

A highly sensitive means of analyzing very tiny amounts of DNA has been developed by researchers. The discovery, they say, could increase the ability of forensic scientists to match genetic material in some criminal investigations. It could also prevent the need for a painful, invasive test given to transplant patients at risk of rejecting their donor organs and replace it with a blood test that reveals traces of donor DNA.

We see art more as a person than an object: 'Magical contagion' spreads creator's essence to pieces

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:17 AM PDT

We see art more as a person than an object, according to new research. And in some cases, we make distinctions between artworks — say, an exact replica of a piece created by the artist, versus one created by a different artist. Art, in other words, is an extension of the creator.

Bacterial communication: And so they beat on, flagella against the cantilever

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:17 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a new model to study the motion patterns of bacteria in real time and to determine how these motions relate to communication within a bacterial colony. They chemically attached colonies of E. coli bacteria to a microcantilever, coupling its motion to that of the bacteria. As the cantilever itself isn't doesn't generate any vibrations, or 'noise,' this allowed the researchers to monitor the colony's reactions to various stimuli in real time.

The future face of molecular electronics

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:17 AM PDT

The emerging field of molecular electronics could take our definition of portable to the next level, enabling the construction of tiny circuits from molecular components. In these highly efficient devices, individual molecules would take on the roles currently played by comparatively bulky wires, resistors and transistors. A team of researchers has identified a potential candidate for use in small-scale electronics: a molecule called picene.

Making quantum dots glow brighter

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:17 AM PDT

Researchers have found a new way to control the properties of quantum dots, those tiny chunks of semiconductor material that glow different colors depending on their size. Quantum dots, which are so small they start to exhibit atom-like quantum properties, have a wide range of potential applications, from sensors, light-emitting diodes, and solar cells, to fluorescent tags for biomedical imaging and qubits in quantum computing.

A heart-felt need for dairy food: Small serving beneficial, large not necessary

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 07:22 AM PDT

A daily small serve of dairy food may reduce the risk of heart disease or stroke, even in communities where such foods have not traditionally formed part of the diet according to new research.

Each tree species has unique bacterial identity, microbiome research shows

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 07:22 AM PDT

Each tree species has its own bacterial identity. That's the conclusion of researchers who studied the genetic fingerprints of bacteria on 57 species of trees growing on a Panamanian island.

Neuroimaging technique identifies concussion-related brain disease in living brain

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 07:22 AM PDT

An experimental positron emission tomography (PET) tracer is effective in diagnosing concussion-related brain disease while a person is still alive. A new study suggests that an experimental radiolabeled compound, which is designed to latch onto a protein called tau that accumulates in the brain with repetitive blows to the head, can be registered on a PET scanner to effectively diagnose chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Is the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for policing effective?

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 07:20 AM PDT

Police agencies are using Geographic Information Systems for mapping crime, identifying crime 'hot spots,' assigning officers, and profiling offenders, but little research has been done about the effectiveness of the technology in curbing crime, according to a study.

Unraveling cell division: Process of mitosis more clear, thanks to new research

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 07:19 AM PDT

The process of mitosis has made more clear, thanks to recent research. A new study describes how Topo 2, an enzyme that disentangles DNA molecules and is essential for proper cell division.

Proteins: Good networkers make prime targets

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 07:19 AM PDT

Proteins form either small or large networks to perform their functions. How these protein networks are subverted by pathogens has been investigated on a plant model by a research team who found that distinct pathogens like fungi and bacteria use the same tactic: launching targeted attacks on highly networked proteins that have multiple functions.

Judging a fish by its color: For female bluefin killifish, love is a yellow mate

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 07:19 AM PDT

Researchers used male replicas of bluefin killifish and controlled their movement with robotic arms to improve repeatability in experiments designed to determine how fertile female fish would respond to male courtship. The surprising result: The females preferred males with yellow fins, contrary to existing research that indicated a preference to blue and red.

Exxon Valdez 2014: Does media coverage of humanmade disasters contribute to consumer complacency?

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 07:18 AM PDT

Twenty-five years ago, the Exxon Valdez spilled 11 million gallons of oil into Alaska's Prince William Sound. Americans found themselves cleaning up another giant oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. According to a new study, news coverage of environmental disasters serves to calm our immediate anxieties instead of catalyzing changes in the way fossil fuels are used.

Analysis finds select group of stage IV lung cancer patient population achieves long-term survival after aggressive treatments

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 07:18 AM PDT

A large, international analysis of patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) indicates that a patient's overall survival (OS) rate can be related to factors including the timing of when metastases develop and lymph node involvement, and that aggressive treatment for "low-risk" patients leads to a five-year OS rate of 47.8 percent, according to new research.