ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

People will live longer than official estimates predict, UK study shows

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 08:48 PM PDT

A new study forecasting how life expectancy will change in England and Wales has predicted people will live longer than current estimates. They predict that life expectancy nationally will increase for men from 79.5 years in 2012 to 85.7 in 2030, and for women from 83.3 in 2012 to 87.6 in 2030.

Tracking tiny songbirds across continents

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 03:24 PM PDT

A pair of newly published papers lay out a method for outfitting birds with geolocators or radio transmitters that cuts precious weight from the package, allowing the devices to be used on very small birds, and demonstrate that the trackers do not harm the birds or impede their migration.

Traumatic events, financial struggles may threaten women's heart health

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 03:24 PM PDT

Traumatic life events such as losing a child or a spouse increased the chances of a heart attack by more than 65 percent among middle-aged and older women regardless of heart disease risk factors or socioeconomic status. A history of financial struggle was associated with a two-fold higher risk for heart attack among middle-aged and elderly women.

Novel approach blocks amyloid production in Alzheimer's mouse model

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 03:24 PM PDT

Offering a potential early intervention for Alzheimer's disease (AD), researchers have identified compounds that block the production of beta amyloid peptides in mice. The build-up of beta amyloid plaques is widely believed to cause irreversible brain damage, resulting in a host of cognitive and motor impairments broadly associated with AD, which accounts for about 60 to 80 percent of all cases of dementia in the United States.

Illuminating the dark zone: Discoveries about a specific protein and its effects on final step of cell division

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 03:24 PM PDT

The human body is a cross between a factory and a construction zone -- at least on the cellular level. Certain proteins act as project managers, which direct a wide variety of processes and determine the fate of the cell as a whole. A new study reveals a novel function for WDR5, a protein known for its critical role in gene expression.

Toxic combination of air pollution and poverty lowers child IQ

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 03:24 PM PDT

Children born to mothers experiencing economic hardship, who were also exposed during pregnancy to high levels of PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), scored significantly lower on IQ tests at age 5 compared with children born to mothers with greater economic security and less exposure to the pollutants.

Forest canopies buffer against climate change

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 03:24 PM PDT

Current models of how forests will respond to climate change don't account for differences between adult and juvenile trees. Recent research of forest landscape ecology, finds that climatic buffering from forest canopies is important to consider when projecting the likelihood of regeneration in future forests.

Rociletinib shows promising activity against treatment-resistant EGFR-mutated lung cancer

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 03:24 PM PDT

A new targeted therapy drug against EGFR-mutation driven lung tumors that have become resistant to current therapies shows activity against the most common resistance mutation, significantly improving outcomes for patients.

Low health literacy linked to heart failure deaths after hospitalization

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 03:24 PM PDT

Acute heart failure patients are more likely to die within two years of hospitalization if they have trouble understanding and using health information. Living with heart failure can be complex, so patients need to let their healthcare providers know if they don't understand their instructions.

Calling 911 in rural areas leads to faster heart attack care

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 03:24 PM PDT

Fifty-two percent of patients in rural areas with severe heart attacks drove themselves to the hospital or were driven in instead of calling 911. However, patients who called 911 got to the hospital faster and received lifesaving care more quickly.

Friends, social networks valued by heart failure patients and health care providers

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 03:24 PM PDT

Most patients consult family first in assessing their heart failure symptoms. Meanwhile, healthcare providers say a network allowing physicians to share and consult is valuable.

Left ventricular assist devices may lead to declines in health, cognitive thinking in some heart failure patients

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 03:24 PM PDT

Left ventricular assist devices are life-prolonging devices for patients with advanced heart failure but they also may leave some patients in poor health with declines in brain function. Risk factors for cognitive decline included older age and having devices placed as permanent therapy.

Silica dust in small-scale gold mining linked to silicosis, TB epidemic

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 03:21 PM PDT

Silica dust hazards in large gold mines have been well documented, but the situation is far worse in small-scale gold mining according to a new study. This is the first ever study to measure silica exposures in small-scale gold mining operations.

Challenging work tasks may have an upside for the brain

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 03:21 PM PDT

Professionals whose jobs require more speaking, developing strategies, conflict resolution and managerial tasks may experience better protection against memory and thinking decline in old age than their co-workers, according to a new study.

Uncovering new functions of a gene implicated in cancer growth opens new therapeutic possibilities

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 11:54 AM PDT

For the first time, researchers have shown that a gene previously implicated in blood vessel formation during embryonic development and tumor growth also induces immune suppression during tumor development. This finding opens the door for new therapeutic approaches and vaccine development in treating patients with melanoma and other advanced-staged cancers.

Prevent type 2 diabetes blood-sugar spikes by eating more protein for breakfast, experts say

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 11:54 AM PDT

Individuals with type 2 diabetes have difficulty regulating their glucose -- or blood sugar -- levels, particularly after meals. Now, researchers have found that type 2 diabetics can eat more protein at breakfast to help reduce glucose spikes at both breakfast and lunch.

Three secrets to healthier eating

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 11:54 AM PDT

A new study analyzed 112 studies that collected information about healthy eating behaviors and found that most healthy eaters did so because a restaurant, grocery store, school cafeteria, or spouse made foods like fruits and vegetables visible and easy to reach (convenient), enticingly displayed (attractive), and appear like an obvious choice (normal).

Locally sourced drugs can be effective for treating multidrug-resistant TB

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 11:54 AM PDT

Locally sourced antibiotics can be as effective as 'internationally quality-assured' antibiotics for treating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Pakistan, and may help avoid delays in starting treatment while programs wait for drugs to arrive from overseas, according to new research.

Can skull shape and function determine what kind of food was on prehistoric plates?

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 11:54 AM PDT

When paleontologists put together a life history for a long-extinct animal, it's common to infer the foods it ate by looking at modern animals with similar skull shapes and tooth patterns. But this practice is far from foolproof. New modeling and tests based on living species show that the link between animal diets and skull biomechanics is complex, with a stronger influence from ancestry than previously thought.

Novel rapid method for typing of Clostridium difficile could limit outbreaks

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 11:54 AM PDT

A method of typing has been been developed that can allow laboratories to faster establish the presence of hospital outbreaks of the intestinal bacterium Clostridium difficile, scientists report.

High costs of dental care leave many with too little money for basic necessities

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 11:54 AM PDT

Having to pay for dental health care can put a considerable strain on household finances in many countries, according to an international study. The assessed the extent of household 'catastrophic dental health expenditure' in 41 low and middle income countries. Expenditure was defined as catastrophic if it was equal to or higher than 40% of the household's capacity to pay.

Rare whale fossil found in Panama clarifies evolution of sperm whale

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 11:54 AM PDT

Almost since the time of Melville's epic hunt, scientists have been fascinated by the remarkable attributes of the sperm whale and its kin, the smaller pigmy and dwarf whales. Capable of diving to great depths and gifted with an acute sense of echolocation, these animals have remained inseparable from maritime lore. Scientists have now discovered a new species of an extinct pigmy sperm whale from Panama that clarifies key aspects of the evolution of the sperm whale.

Medical education risks becoming two-tiered unless strong research focus is preserved, argue medical leaders

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 11:53 AM PDT

For more than 100 years, exposing students to basic and clinical research has been an essential component of a medical school education in the United States. However, today, new models of medical education in which research plays a minimal role are likely to create a two-tiered system of education, decrease the physician-scientist pipeline and diminish the application of scientific advances to patient care.

How babies' lives were saved by 3-D printing

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 11:53 AM PDT

A new study reports outcomes for three boys who became among the first in the world to benefit from 3D printed devices that saved their lives.

Neural circuit involved in combining multiple senses

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 11:52 AM PDT

Studying fruit fly larvae, scientists have mapped the entire neural circuit involved in combining vibration and pain sensations used in triggering an escape behavior. Combining information across multiple senses helps in choosing an appropriate action.

Urine profiles provide clues to how obesity causes disease

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 11:06 AM PDT

Being overweight or obese is associated with higher risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer, but the mechanisms connecting body fat and disease are not well understood. Scientists have identified chemical markers in urine associated with body mass, providing insights into how obesity causes disease.

Parents describe arduous journey to pediatric epileptic surgery when their child's disease becomes resistant to anti-seizure meds

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 11:06 AM PDT

Now, parents share their arduous and "circuitous" journey to get referrals for pediatric epilepsy surgery once their child's disease stops responding to anti-seizure medications. The study sheds light on the difficulties parents face obtaining specialty and sub-specialty care for their children during an already stressful time.

Tax cuts for middle, lower income Americans boost economy while tax breaks for the rich do little to help

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 11:06 AM PDT

Tax cuts for ordinary Americans boost economic growth and create jobs, while tax breaks for the rich do little to help the economy.

Research seeks alternatives for reducing bacteria in fresh produce using nanoengineering

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 10:29 AM PDT

Nearly half of foodborne illnesses in the US have been attributed to contaminated fresh produce. Prevention and control of bacterial contamination on fresh produce is critical to ensure food safety. The current strategy remains industrial washing of the product in water containing chlorine. Due to sanitizer ineffectiveness there is an urgent need to identify alternative, natural antimicrobials. Researchers have been exploring alternative antimicrobials along with nanoengineering techniques to address this need.

Researchers closer to being able to change blood types

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 10:29 AM PDT

What do you do when a patient needs a blood transfusion but you don't have their blood type in the blood bank? It's a problem that scientists have been trying to solve for years but haven't been able to find an economic solution -- until now.

Quenching the thirst for clean, safe water

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 10:29 AM PDT

It is estimated that one in nine people globally lack access to safe water. Researchers are looking to fill that critical need and provide safe drinking water to the most remote locations in the world with a new foam water filter that significantly reduces dangerous pathogens in drinking water.

200-year lag between climate events in Greenland, Antarctica: Ocean involved

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 10:29 AM PDT

A new study using evidence from a highly detailed ice core from West Antarctica shows a consistent link between abrupt temperature changes on Greenland and Antarctica during the last ice age, giving scientists a clearer picture of the link between climate in the northern and southern hemispheres.

Brain circuitry for positive vs. negative memories discovered in mice

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 10:29 AM PDT

Neuroscientists have discovered brain circuitry for encoding positive and negative learned associations in mice. After finding that two circuits showed opposite activity following fear and reward learning, the researchers proved that this divergent activity causes either avoidance or reward-driven behaviors. They used cutting-edge optical-genetic tools to pinpoint these mechanisms critical to survival, which are also implicated in mental illness.

Combined chemotherapy and immunotherapy shows promise for advanced prostate cancers

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 10:27 AM PDT

Blocking or removing immune-suppressing cells allows a special type of chemotherapy — and the immune cells it activates — to destroy prostate tumors, researchers report. This novel combination therapy, termed chemoimmunotherapy, achieved near complete remission in mouse models of advanced prostate cancer.

Energy consumption rises with automated bill payment

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 09:56 AM PDT

The adage 'out of sight, out of mind' applies to utility consumption, according to new research. A study of 16 years of billing records from one South Carolina electric utility found that residential customers using automated bill payment consumed 4 to 6 percent more power than those who did not. Commercial electricity customers used 8 percent more.

Why do obese men get bariatric surgery far less than women?

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 09:56 AM PDT

Demographic, socioeconomic and cultural factors contribute to a major gender disparity among US men and women undergoing weight loss surgeries. Men undergo the surgeries in far lower numbers than women, researchers report.

Young adults born preterm may live with lungs of elderly

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 09:56 AM PDT

Adult survivors of preterm births may have a lung capacity that resembles the healthy elderly or casual smokers by the time they reach their early 20s, according to a new study.

New solar telescope unveils the complex dynamics of sunspots' dark cores

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 09:56 AM PDT

Groundbreaking images of the Sun give a first-ever detailed view of the interior structure of umbrae -- the dark patches in the center of sunspots -- revealing dynamic magnetic fields responsible for the plumes of plasma that emerge as bright dots interrupting their darkness.

Discovery may change cancer treatment

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 09:56 AM PDT

A discovery has been made that may change the principles for treating certain types of cancer. The discovery relates to the so-called telomeres that constitute the ends of human chromosomes. Short telomeres are related to unhealthy lifestyles, old age and the male gender -- all of which are risk factors in terms of high mortality. Up until now, the assumption has been that short telomeres are related to ill health. The challenge for researchers worldwide has therefore been to find out whether or not the short telomeres were indeed a signifier or an indirect cause of increased mortality.

Five-year survivors of esophageal cancer still face low but constant risks

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 09:54 AM PDT

According to the American Cancer Society, in 2015 about 17,000 new cases of esophageal cancer will be diagnosed, and about 15,600 people will die from the disease. While the 5-year survival rate in the 1960s and 1970s was only about 5%, improvements in diagnosis, treatment, and management have led to improved survival. However, information is lacking about what happens to long-term survivors of esophageal cancer. New research shows that while five-year survival is up to 39%, these patients still face many health risks and should be monitored for 10 years or more.

Your brain on drugs: Functional differences in brain communication in cocaine users

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 08:32 AM PDT

The brain function of people addicted to cocaine is different from that of people who are not addicted, and is often linked to highly impulsive behavior, according to a new scientific study.

Brain-injured patients need therapies based on cognitive neuroscience

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 08:32 AM PDT

Patients with traumatic brain injuries are not benefiting from recent advances in cognitive neuroscience research -- and they should be, scientists report. Now, cognitive neuroscientists have identified dozens of brain networks, each of which engages a specific set of brain structures to perform particular tasks. This information, researchers say, should factor into the therapies that these patients receive.

A smartphone with ultimate macro feature: DNA-scanning fluorescent microscope

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 08:32 AM PDT

Researchers have recently developed a device that can turn any smartphone into a DNA-scanning fluorescent microscope.

The trillion-frame-per-second camera

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 08:32 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a new high-speed camera that can record events at a rate of more than 1-trillion-frames-per-second. That speed is more than one thousand times faster than conventional high-speed cameras.

Is quality or cost more essential? The international cellphone market

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 08:32 AM PDT

As businesses move into international markets, they often do so with a 'one size fits all' customer satisfaction strategy. But factors as basic as how consumers prioritize pricing and quality can differ sharply across cultures and economic systems, according to a new study. Success will depend in part on understanding these perceptions across cultures.

Gene therapy clips out heart failure causing gene mutations

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 08:32 AM PDT

Cardiomyopathies are diseases of weakened heart muscle, which can lead to heart enlargement and heart failure. The conditions are often genetically inherited. Gene therapy can clip out genetic material linked to heart failure and replace it with the normal gene in human cardiac cells, according to a study.

Measuring customer value? Don't overlook product returns

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 08:32 AM PDT

When trying to identify 'good' customers, managers often ignore those who return products, or might even consider those customers non-ideal, decreasing the resources devoted to them. In the long term, however, satisfactory product return experiences can actually create a valuable long-term customer whose contributions far outweigh the associated costs, according to a new study.

Multifractals suggest the existence of an unknown physical mechanism on the Sun

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 08:32 AM PDT

The famous sunspots on the surface of the Earth's star result from the dynamics of strong magnetic fields, and their numbers are an important indicator of the state of activity on the Sun. Researchers have been conducting multifractal analysis into the changes in the numbers of sunspots. The resulting graphs were surprisingly asymmetrical in shape, suggesting that sunspots may be involved in hitherto unknown physical processes.

How the lack of specific proteins affects development of filamentous fungi

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 08:30 AM PDT

Fungi can have a great economic impact. In industry, they are used as a source of enzymes or antibiotics. But they can also cause considerable economic damage as they are responsible for infections in plants (rice, wheat, maize, etc.), fruit and humans. Their capacity to cause infection increases due to the rapid dispersion of their conidia in the air or through other mediums. The genetic and molecular processes that lead to conidia generation are now the focus of a new study.

Long-sought biomarker for chronic stress in fish discovered

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 08:30 AM PDT

A long-sought biomarker for chronic stress in fish has now been discovered. Fish faced with stressful stimuli launch an endocrine stress response through activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal (HPI-) axis to release cortisol into the blood. Plasma cortisol is a poor predictor for chronic stress as it reflects no more than a snap-shot of the stress response at a given moment. On the contrary, the scale glucocorticoid, especially cortisol, content was shown to reflect the stress history of the fish, researchers report.

Durable benefits seen for lung volume reduction surgery for emphysema

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 08:26 AM PDT

The National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NETT) was a multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial comparing the efficacy of lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) plus medical management with rehabilitation to medical management plus rehabilitation in patients with severe emphysema. In 2003, the results of NETT demonstrated that LVRS could improve lung function in patients with emphysema, and that the procedure led to improved survival. Yet, adoption of LVRS has been very slow with concerns expressed regarding safety and long-term efficacy. Now researchers present the results of ten years of' experience with LVRS for emphysema.

Investment fears: How does the need for closure increase risk?

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 07:48 AM PDT

Logic would dictate that consumers receiving new market information would jump at the chance to adjust their investments accordingly. In practice, however, many people associate change with loss of control. They crave the idea of permanence or closure to such an extent that they would rather freeze decisions in place even if, ironically, this puts them more at risk, according to a new study.

Twist on evolutionary theory could help explain racism and other forms of prejudice

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 07:48 AM PDT

Psychology, biology, and mathematics have come together to show that the occurrence of altruism and spite -- helping or harming others at a cost to oneself -- depends on similarity not just between two interacting individuals but also to the rest of their neighbors.

Artificial photosynthesis could help make fuels, plastics and medicine

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 07:48 AM PDT

The global industrial sector accounts for more than half of the total energy used every year. Now scientists are inventing a new artificial photosynthetic system that could one day reduce industry's dependence on fossil fuel-derived energy by powering part of the sector with solar energy and bacteria. The system converts light and carbon dioxide into building blocks for plastics, pharmaceuticals and fuels -- all without electricity.

Can cheap wine taste great? Brain imaging and marketing placebo effects

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 07:48 AM PDT

When consumers taste cheap wine and rate it highly because they believe it is expensive, is it because prejudice has blinded them to the actual taste, or has prejudice actually changed their brain function, causing them to experience the cheap wine in the same physical way as the expensive wine? Research has shown that preconceived beliefs may create a placebo effect so strong that the actual chemistry of the brain changes.

Giving to charity: Feeling love means doing more for distant strangers

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 07:48 AM PDT

Marketers often use positive emotions such as hope, pride, love, and compassion interchangeably to encourage people to donate to charitable causes. But these distinct emotions can lead to different results, and love alone has the power to inspire giving to those with whom the giver has no connection, according to a new study.

How does a honeybee queen avoid inbreeding in her colony?

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 07:48 AM PDT

Recombination, or crossing-over, occurs when sperm and egg cells are formed and segments of each chromosome pair are interchanged. This process plays an crucial role in the maintenance of genetic variation. Biologists have studied recombination in honeybees. The extreme recombination rates found in this species seem to be crucial for their survival.

Shrinking budget? Consumers choose less variety when investing or shopping

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 07:11 AM PDT

When consumer budgets grow or shrink, how do spending habits change? A common view is that people with a budget will spend their money on the same number of products, even when their previous budget was lower or higher. But in order to keep their favorite items, consumers whose budgets have shrunk to a particular amount will opt for less variety than someone whose budget has increased to that same amount, according to a new study.

Stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma: New data did not change conclusion

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 07:11 AM PDT

After an update search, reviewers were able to include further studies in the assessment. The evidence base remained insufficient, however, and results of large studies remain unpublished.

Drug resistant bacteria common for nursing home residents with dementia

Posted: 29 Apr 2015 07:10 AM PDT

One in five nursing home residents with advanced dementia harbor strains of drug-resistant bacteria and more than 10 percent of the drug-resistant bacteria are resistant to four or more antibiotic classes, new research has found.