ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

We drink more alcohol on gym days

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 03:13 PM PDT

On days when people exercise more -- typically Thursdays to Sundays -- they drink more alcohol, too. This is the only study to use smartphone technology and a daily diary approach for self-reporting physical activity and alcohol use.

Reversing the effects of pulmonary fibrosis with a microRNA mimic

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 03:13 PM PDT

A potential new treatment that reverses the effects of pulmonary fibrosis, a respiratory disease in which scars develop in the lungs and severely hamper breathing, is being studied by scientists. The treatment uses a microRNA mimic, miR-29, which is delivered to lung tissue intravenously. In mouse models, miR-29 not only blocked pulmonary fibrosis, it reversed fibrosis after several days.

Cheater, cheater: Study shows what happens when employees feel excluded at work

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 03:13 PM PDT

When employees feel left out, they act out. That's the message that new research delivers as it explains why employees can become weasels to benefit their work group.

Best exercise for obese youths analyzed

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 03:00 PM PDT

What exercise program can best fight the 'epidemic' of teen obesity? According to a study, by combining aerobic exercise with resistance training. "Obesity is an epidemic among youth," says one author. "Adolescents who are overweight are typically advised to exercise more, but there is limited evidence on what type of exercise is best in order to lose fat."

Maternal breast milk is risk factor for cytomegalovirus transmission in premature infants

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 03:00 PM PDT

Premature infants, especially those born with very low-birth-weight, are particularly vulnerable to cytomegalovirus infection because of their immature immune systems. Maternal breast milk is a primary source of postnatal cytomegalovirus in very-low-birth-weight patients, researchers say.

Statin use during hospitalization for hemorrhagic stroke associated with improved survival

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 03:00 PM PDT

Patients who were treated with a statin in the hospital after suffering from a hemorrhagic stroke were significantly more likely to survive than those who were not, according to a study. This study was conducted by the same researchers who recently discovered that the use of cholesterol-lowering statins can improve survival in victims of ischemic stroke.

Old drug may be key to new antibiotics

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 02:57 PM PDT

An anticonvulsant drug called lamotrigine is the first chemical inhibitor of the assembly of ribosomes in bacteria. he discovery is important as there is growing concern worldwide about how antibiotic resistance is making the cures for infections ineffective. The World Health Organization has declared that antibiotic resistance is a major threat to global health security.

Actions on climate change bring better health, study says

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 02:57 PM PDT

The number of extremely hot days in Eastern and Midwestern U.S. cities is projected to triple by mid-century, according to a new study. In presenting their synthesis, the study authors seek to encourage efforts that benefit both the health of the planet and the health of people.

Artificial liver tested as potential therapy for patients with alcohol-related organ failure

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 02:57 PM PDT

A novel, human cell based, bioartificial liver support system is being tested for patients with acute liver failure, often a fatal diagnosis. The external organ support system is designed to perform critical functions of a normal liver, including protein synthesis and the processing and cleaning of a patient's blood. The filtered and treated blood is then returned to the patient through the central line.

Think the system for paying U.S. Doctors is rigged to favor surgeons? New study may surprise you

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 02:57 PM PDT

A new study pulls back the curtain on one of the most contentious issues in health care: differences in payment between physicians who perform operations and those who don't. Contrary to perception, the research indicates, the physician payment system is not inherently "rigged" to favor surgeons.

Higher risk of heart disease for South Asians in Canada

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 12:29 PM PDT

Findings of a new study emphasize the need to develop a standardized surveillance system for non-communicable diseases, such as CVD, cancer and lung diseases, by ethnic group in Canada.

Answer to restoring lost island biodiversity found in fossils

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 12:29 PM PDT

Many native species have vanished from tropical islands because of human impact, but scientists have discovered how fossils can be used to restore lost biodiversity. The key lies in organic materials found in fossil bones, which contain evidence for how ancient ecosystems functioned, according to a new study.

Infant solar system shows signs of windy weather

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 12:29 PM PDT

Astronomers have observed what may be the first-ever signs of windy weather around a T Tauri star, an infant analog of our own Sun. This may help explain why some T Tauri stars have disks that glow weirdly in infrared light while others shine in a more expected fashion.

Gene expression patterns in pancreatic circulating tumor cells revealed

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 12:28 PM PDT

Analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in a mouse model of pancreatic cancer identified distinct patterns of gene expression in several groups of CTCs, including significant differences from the primary tumor that may contribute to the ability to generate metastases. The investigators identified several different classes of pancreatic CTCs and found unexpected factors that may prove to be targets for improved treatment of the deadly tumor.

Genetic switch regulates a plant's internal clock based on temperature

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 12:28 PM PDT

Scientists have found the molecular cog in a plant's biological clock that modulates its speed based on temperature. "Temperature helps keep the hands of the biological clock in the right place," said the corresponding author of the study. "Now we know more about how that works."

Platelets modulate clotting behavior by 'feeling' their surroundings

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 12:28 PM PDT

Platelets respond to surfaces with greater stiffness by increasing their stickiness, the degree to which they "turn on" other platelets and other components of the clotting system, researchers have found. Platelets, the tiny cell fragments whose job it is to stop bleeding, are very simple. And yet they have proven to be "smarter than we give them credit for," researchers have found.

Lego-like modular components make building 3-D 'labs-on-a-chip' a snap

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 12:28 PM PDT

Thanks to new Lego-like components, it is now possible to build a 3-D microfluidic system (or 'lab-on-a-chip') quickly and cheaply by simply snapping together small modules by hand.

Immune response turned up, not down, by flu during pregnancy, study finds

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 12:28 PM PDT

Pregnant women have an unusually strong immune response to influenza, an unexpected finding that may explain why they get sicker from the flu than other healthy adults, new research has found. The results were surprising because immune responses are thought to be weakened by pregnancy to prevent the woman's body from rejecting her fetus.

Antifreeze proteins in Antarctic fishes prevent freezing…and melting

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 12:28 PM PDT

Antarctic fishes that manufacture their own 'antifreeze' proteins to survive in the icy Southern Ocean also suffer an unfortunate side effect, researchers report: The protein-bound ice crystals that accumulate inside their bodies resist melting even when temperatures warm.

Plant variants point the way to improved biofuel production

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 12:28 PM PDT

Scientists have discovered variant plants with straw that are more easily digested for biofuel production. Critically, the plants are not significantly smaller or weaker than normal plants. The discovery could make biofuels from plant residues easier and cheaper to make, reducing pressure on food crops used for biofuels.

Fine line between breast cancer, normal tissues

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 12:28 PM PDT

A tool has been successfully tested that will help surgeons better distinguish cancerous breast tissue from normal tissue, thereby decreasing the chances for repeat operations. The tool, known as DESI mass spectrometry imaging, works by turning molecules into electrically charged versions of themselves, called ions, so that they can be identified by their mass.

Engineers unlock potential for faster computing

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 12:28 PM PDT

Engineers discovered a way to create a special material -- a metal layer on top of a silicon semiconductor -- that could lead to cost-effective, superfast computers that perform lightning-fast calculations but don't overheat. This new "topological insulator" behaves like an insulator on the inside but conducts electricity on the outside.

Firelight talk of the Kalahari Bushmen

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 12:28 PM PDT

A study of Africa's Kalahari Bushmen suggests that stories told over firelight helped human culture and thought evolve by reinforcing social traditions, promoting harmony and equality, and sparking the imagination to envision a broad sense of community, both with distant people and the spirit world.

Priorities for research on pharmaceutical, personal care products in the environment

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 12:17 PM PDT

The results from a survey designed to identify and prioritize the scientific research needed to understand the risks of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the environment have now been released.

Benefits of wellness program for people with multiple sclerosis demonstrated in pilot study

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 12:17 PM PDT

A pilot study has shown the benefits of a 10-week psychoeducational wellness program in people with multiple sclerosis. Improvements were seen in mood, overall mental health, perceived stress, and pain, researchers report.

New chip promising for tumor-targeting research

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 11:58 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a chip capable of simulating a tumor's 'microenvironment' and plan to use the new system to test the effectiveness of nanoparticles and drugs that target cancer. The new system, called a tumor-microenvironment-on-chip (T-MOC) device, will allow researchers to study the complex environment surrounding tumors and the barriers that prevent the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents.

Mown grass smell sends SOS for help in resisting insect attacks

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 11:58 AM PDT

The smell of cut grass in recent years has been identified as the plant's way of signalling distress, but new research says the aroma also summons beneficial insects to the rescue. Such findings may help plant breeders know how to develop new varieties that are more resistant to insects and drought.

Compound from hops aids cognitive function in young animals

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 10:07 AM PDT

Xanthohumol, a type of flavonoid found in hops and beer, has been shown in a new study to improve cognitive function in young mice, but not in older animals. The findings are another step toward understanding, and ultimately reducing the degradation of memory that happens with age in many mammalian species, including humans.

Engineers show light can play seesaw at the nanoscale: Step toward faster and more energy-efficient optical devices

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 10:07 AM PDT

Electrical engineering researchers have developed a unique nanoscale device that for the first time demonstrates mechanical transportation of light. The discovery could have major implications for creating faster and more efficient optical devices for computation and communication.

Variability in heart beat keeps the body in balance

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 10:07 AM PDT

Although the heart beats out a very familiar 'lub-dub' pattern that speeds up or slows down as our activity increases or decreases, the pattern itself isn't as regular as you might think. In fact, the amount of time between heartbeats can vary even at a 'constant' heart rate -- and that variability, doctors have found, is a good thing.

Obesity and stress pack a double hit for health

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 10:07 AM PDT

If you're overweight, you may be at greater risk for stress-related diseases like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer, according to a new study. Researchers observed that overweight and obese individuals have higher levels of stress-induced inflammation than those within a healthy weight-range.

Hold on, tiger mom: Punitive parenting may lead to mental health risks

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 10:07 AM PDT

Less supportive and punitive parenting techniques used by some Chinese parents might lead to the development of low self-esteem and school adjustment difficulties in their children and leave them vulnerable to depression and problem behaviors, according to a paper.

Common diabetes drug associated with risk of low levels of thyroid hormone

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 10:07 AM PDT

Metformin, a commonly used drug for treating type 2 diabetes, is linked to an increased risk of low thyroid-stimulating hormone levels in patients with underactive thyroids, according to a study. Low levels of thyroid stimulating hormone can cause harm, such as cardiovascular conditions and fractures.

Online ratings influence parents' choices of physicians for their children

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 10:06 AM PDT

Almost three-quarters (74%) of parents are aware of online rating sites for physicians, and more than one-quarter (28%) have used those online ratings to choose a healthcare provider for their children, according to research.

Graphene imperfections key to creating hypersensitive 'electronic nose'

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 10:05 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered a way to create a highly sensitive chemical sensor based on the crystalline flaws in graphene sheets. The imperfections have unique electronic properties that the researchers were able to exploit to increase sensitivity to absorbed gas molecules by 300 times.

Brainwave test could improve autism diagnosis, classification

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 10:05 AM PDT

Measuring how fast the brain responds to sights and sounds could help in objectively classifying people on the autism spectrum and may help diagnose the condition earlier, research suggests. Statistics show that 1 in 68 children has been identified with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The signs and symptoms of ASD vary significantly from person to person, ranging from mild social and communication difficulties to profound cognitive impairments.

New bracelet strengthens computer security

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 08:30 AM PDT

In a big step for securing critical information systems, such as medical records in clinical settings, researchers have created a new approach to computer security that authenticates users continuously while they are using a terminal and automatically logs them out when they leave or when someone else steps in to use their terminal.

Blood test may help determine who is at risk for psychosis

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 08:30 AM PDT

A blood test, when used in psychiatric patients experiencing symptoms that are considered to be indicators of a high risk for psychosis, identifies those who later went on to develop psychosis, preliminary results of a new study show. "The blood test included a selection of 15 measures of immune and hormonal system imbalances as well as evidence of oxidative stress," explained a corresponding author of the study.

Some concussion education more useful than others, parents say

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 08:29 AM PDT

Many parents whose kids participate in athletics will be asked to sign a waiver about concussion education, but that's not enough to ensure parents are confident about handling the injury, according to a new poll.

How gene expression affects facial expressions

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 08:06 AM PDT

A person's face is the first thing that others see, and much remains unknown about how it forms -- or malforms -- during early development. Recently, researchers have begun to unwind these mysteries.

Lack of thyroid hormone blocks hearing development

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 08:06 AM PDT

Fatigue, weight gain, chills, hair loss, anxiety, excessive perspiration -- these symptoms are a few of the signs that the thyroid gland has gone haywire. Harnessing electron microscopy to track the inner hair cells of the cochlea in two groups of mice, new research points to an additional complication caused by an imbalance in the thyroid gland: congenital deafness.

New RFID technology helps robots find household objects

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 08:05 AM PDT

Researchers have created a new search algorithm that improves a robot's ability to find and navigate to tagged objects. The team has implemented their system on a PR2 robot, allowing it to travel through a home and correctly locate different types of tagged household objects, including a medication bottle, TV remote, phone and hair brush.

Environment plays bigger role than genetics in food allergic disease

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 08:04 AM PDT

Environment has a much stronger role than genetics in eosinophilic esophagitis, a severe, often painful food allergy that renders children unable to eat a wide variety of foods, researchers have found. Eosinophils are normal cellular components of the blood, but when the body produces too many eosinophils they can cause a variety of eosinophilic disorders. These are disorders involving chronic inflammation and resulting tissue damage, often in the gastrointestinal system.

Influenza A potentiates pneumococcal co-infection: New details emerge

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 08:04 AM PDT

Influenza infection can enhance the ability of the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae to cause ear and throat infections, according to research. "As with most pneumococcal infections, it should be appreciated that localized nonlethal infections are much more common than the rapidly lethal presentations," says one expert. "For example, influenza is a contributing factor in otitis media (middle ear infections) in children."

Involving female offenders in release planning can increase reintegration success

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 08:04 AM PDT

Women who are about to be released from prison need to be more involved in their discharge planning if they are to successfully reintegrate into their communities and avoid returning to prison, according to a new study.

Nurse survey shows longer working hours impact on quality of care

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 08:04 AM PDT

Results of a survey of more than 30,000 nurses across Europe show that nurses who work longer shifts and more overtime are more likely to rate the standard of care delivered on their ward as poor, give a negative rating of their hospitals safety and omit necessary patient care.

Arctic sea ice helps remove carbon dioxide from atmosphere, study shows

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 08:04 AM PDT

Climate change is a fact, and most of the warming is caused by human activity. The Arctic is now so warm that the extent of sea ice has decreased by about 30 percent in summer and in winter, sea ice is getting thinner. New research has shown that sea ice removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. If Arctic sea ice is reduced, we may therefore be facing an increase of atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide, researchers warn.

Learning language through cookery and technology

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 08:03 AM PDT

Researchers have cooked up a new way to teach modern languages. They placed the latest digital devices into cooking utensils to create the LanCook project -- an unique mix of cookery, technology and language teaching.

New guidelines issued for managing peri- and postoperative atrial fibrillation

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 08:02 AM PDT

The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) has released new evidence-based guidelines for the prevention and treatment of perioperative and postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) and flutter for thoracic surgical procedures. "These guidelines have the potential to prevent the occurrence of atrial fibrillation in thousands of patients who undergo lung surgery in the United States each year," commented one expert.

Food memory: Discovery shows how we remember taste experiences

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 08:01 AM PDT

A functional link between the brain region responsible for taste memory and the area responsible for encoding the time and place we experienced the taste had been found. The findings expose the complexity and richness of the simple sensory experiences that are engraved in our brains and that in most cases we aren't even aware of. The study can also help explain behavioral results and the difficulty in producing memories when certain areas of the brain become dysfunctional following and illness or accident.

Classroom intervention helps shy kids learn

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 08:01 AM PDT

A program that helps teachers modify their interactions with students based on an individual's temperament helps shy children to become more engaged in their class work, and in turn, improves their math and critical thinking skills, researchers report.

Diabetes in South Asian population the focus of new efforts

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 08:01 AM PDT

A graduate student of South Asian descent is using his medical training and cultural background to educate New Jersey's South Asian communities on diet and lifestyle changes. "Since most people from South Asia are vegetarian, white rice is our go-to food, which means that carb-heavy meals with a high glycemic index are common," he explains. "To reduce their risk, they have to change their diet as well as understand their genetic predisposition."

Evidence supports deep brain stimulation for obsessive-compulsive disorder

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 08:01 AM PDT

Available research evidence supports the use of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) who don't respond to other treatments, concludes a review. Despite the limited evidence base, DBS therapy for OCD has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration under a humanitarian device exemption.

Don’t drink the (warm) water, study says

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 08:01 AM PDT

There's an old saying: "Don't drink the water." But a scientist warns Americans not to drink water from plastic bottles if it's been sitting in a warm environment for a long time. A research team examined 16 bottled water brands at 158 degrees for four weeks. The study found that as bottles warmed over the four-week period, antimony and BPA levels increased.

Finding hints of gravitational waves in the stars

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 06:12 AM PDT

Scientists have shown how gravitational waves -- invisible ripples in the fabric of space and time that propagate through the universe -- might be 'seen' by looking at the stars. The new model proposes that a star that oscillates at the same frequency as a gravitational wave will absorb energy from that wave and brighten, an overlooked prediction of Einstein's 1916 theory of general relativity. The study contradicts previous assumptions about the behavior of gravitational waves.

One out of three severely injured patients undertriaged in the United States

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 06:12 AM PDT

Patients with severe injuries should be treated at level I or level II trauma centers, experts say. Those centers have the resources to provide the best care for those patients. But one out of three major trauma patients in 2010 actually received their treatment at lower-level trauma centers or nontrauma centers, according to a new study.

Brief intervention may prevent increased risk of depression in teens

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 06:12 AM PDT

A low-cost, one-time intervention that educates teens about the changeable nature of personality traits may prevent an increase in depressive symptoms often seen during the transition to high school, according to new research.

E-cigarettes unhelpful in smoking cessation among cancer patients, study shows

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 06:12 AM PDT

In a new study of cancer patients who smoke, those using e-cigarettes, in addition to traditional cigarettes, were more nicotine dependent and equally or less likely to have quit smoking traditional cigarettes than non-users.

Research evaluates neurodevelomental, medical outcomes in single family room NICU

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 06:12 AM PDT

A single-family room neonatal intensive care unit provides for appropriate levels of maternal involvement, developmental support, and staff involvement, which are essential to provide the kind of care that can optimize the medical and neurodevelopmental outcome of preterm infants and lead to the development of preventive interventions to reduce later impairment, researchers have found.

Mothers of children with autism less likely to have taken iron supplements in pregnancy, study shows

Posted: 22 Sep 2014 06:12 AM PDT

Mothers of children with autism are significantly less likely to report taking iron supplements before and during their pregnancies than the mothers of children who are developing normally, a study by researchers.