Saturday, June 13, 2015

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Twitter hashtags associated with diabetes analyzed

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 03:55 PM PDT

An analysis of Twitter hashtag use on the subject of diabetes provides new insights about spreading health information through social media. The study looked at the hashtag #diabetes and its interaction with two Twitter measures of engagement, retweeting and "favoriting."

New powerful drug candidate can improve a failing heart’s function

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 03:55 PM PDT

An experimental drug improves the ability of heart muscle cells damaged by heart failure to pump blood, according to the results of a new study.

Severely impaired stroke survivors regain arm function after intensive physical therapy

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 03:55 PM PDT

Time may heal all wounds, but in the case of stroke survivors, the key to better recovery is to spend more time in an intensive physical therapy program, according to a new study.

Active video gaming compared to unstructured outdoor play

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 11:36 AM PDT

The increasing use of video games is often blamed for children's lack of interest in physical activity, but a new study suggests that active video games may actually be a source of moderate or intense physical activity in children five to eight years old.

Setting the circadian clock

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 11:36 AM PDT

Scientists have harnessed the circadian mechanism found in cyanobacteria to transplant the circadian wiring into a common species of bacteria that is naturally non-circadian. The novel work, which for the first time demonstrates the transplant of a circadian rhythm.

New vision on amygdala after study on testosterone and fear

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 11:30 AM PDT

The activity of the emotion centres in the brain – the amygdalae – is influenced by motivation rather than by the emotions themselves. This can be concluded from research carried out into the hormone testosterone. Testosterone increases amygdala activity in a person who is approaching a socially threatening situation and decreases the activity when such a situation is avoided. It was already known that the amygdala response to images of angry faces was stronger in a person who had received testosterone. This new study shows that this only happens when people approach angry faces and not when they avoid them.

First room-temperature magnetic skyrmion bubbles

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 11:30 AM PDT

Researchers have just announced a new method for creating magnetic skyrmion bubbles at room temperature. The bubbles, a physics phenomenon thought to be an option for more energy-efficient and compact electronics, can be created with simple equipment and common materials.

Cell density remains constant as brain shrinks with age

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 11:30 AM PDT

New, ultra-high-field magnetic resonance images (MRI) of the brain provide the most detailed images to date to show that while the brain shrinks with age, brain cell density remains constant.

Potential treatment for fatal lung diseases

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 10:16 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered that the drug triciribine may reverse or halt the progression of pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension, two respiratory diseases that are almost invariably fatal. Pulmonary fibrosis occurs when lung tissue becomes scarred. Pulmonary hypertension involves an increase of blood pressure in the arteries of the lung that can lead to heart failure.

Vitamin D shows promise for treating Crohn's disease

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 10:16 AM PDT

New research suggests that supplementation with vitamin D may impact on the intestinal barrier dysfunction associated with Crohn's disease, and could have a role in the treatment of the condition.

Entering a 'golden age' of animal tracking

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 10:16 AM PDT

Animals wearing new tagging and tracking devices give a real-time look at their behavior and at the environmental health of the planet, say research.

Stone tools from Jordan point to dawn of division of labor

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 10:16 AM PDT

Charcoal samples enable remarkably accurate estimates of 40,000 to 45,000 years ago for the earliest Upper Paleolithic stone tools in the Near East. The toolmakers appear to have achieved a division of labor that may have been part of an emerging pattern of more organized social structures.

New Grand Canyon age research focuses on Western Grand Canyon

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 10:12 AM PDT

The age of the Grand Canyon (USA) has been studied for years, with recent technological advances facilitating new attempts to determine when erosion of this iconic canyon began. The result is sometimes conflicting ages based on different types of data; most data support the notion that the canyon began to erode to its current form about six million years ago. Then even newer, "high-tech," data became available and questions were again raised about whether the western end of the canyon could be older.

New optics technology opens door to high-resolution atomic-level hard X-ray studies

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 10:12 AM PDT

Scientists have demonstrated a way to reach dramatically smaller focal sizes for hard X-rays, opening the door to research with hard X-rays at atomic-scale.

How to manage pain in the ER: Ask the patient

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 08:11 AM PDT

Simply asking the question, 'Do you want more pain medication?' resulted in satisfactory pain control in 99 percent of emergency department patients participating in a study of a new evidence-based protocol to treat acute, severe pain in emergency department patients.

Study may help to find vets with high-risk of suicide

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 08:11 AM PDT

Veterans Affairs health data has been used to identify very small groups of patients with very high, predicted suicide risk -- most of the individuals had not been identified for suicide risk by clinicians. Such methods can help the Veterans Health Administration to target suicide prevention efforts for patients at high risk, and may have more wide-ranging benefits.

Half of veterans who died from opioid overdoses also received benzos

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 08:11 AM PDT

Nearly half of all veterans who died from drug overdoses while prescribed opioids for pain were also receiving benzodiazepines, or benzos, which are common medications for the treatment of anxiety, insomnia and alcohol withdrawal, a study concludes. Veterans prescribed higher doses of benzodiazepines while concurrently receiving opioids were at greater risk of overdose death than those on lower doses of benzodiazepines.

Researchers discover how the discomfort from dry eye disease originates

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 08:10 AM PDT

A study on the origin of the symptoms of dry eye disease has taken place, and explains the molecular mechanism leading to the discomfort that causes this disease. Dry eye is the most common eye disease in the world, and especially so in elderly people. It is caused by disorders in the quantity and quality of tears, and leads to continuous eye pain and irritation, increased blinking and altered vision, and can potentially cause blindness.

Physical activity decreases over time at all levels of COPD severity, leading to further decline

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 08:10 AM PDT

Physical activity decreases substantially over time in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at all levels of severity, according to a new study.

Scientists tune X-rays with tiny mirrors

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 07:40 AM PDT

Scientists have created a new way of manipulating high-intensity X-rays, which will allow researchers to select extremely brief but precise X-ray bursts for their experiments.

Increased carbon dioxide levels in air restrict plants' ability to absorb nutrients

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 07:40 AM PDT

The rapidly rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere affect plants' absorption of nitrogen, which is the nutrient that restricts crop growth in most terrestrial ecosystems. Researchers have now revealed that the concentration of nitrogen in plants' tissue is lower in air with high levels of carbon dioxide, regardless of whether or not the plants' growth is stimulated.

How we see the future can make us depressed today

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 07:38 AM PDT

A pessimistic view of the future may not be the result of depression but the cause of it. Researchers carried out a review of the literature on depression and 'prospection' -- the mental representation of possible futures. From it they propose that three kinds of faulty prospection can drive depression.

The review of scientific studies in journals is subjective and quality is variable

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 07:38 AM PDT

Peer reviews in science, in which independent scientists who are experts on the subject assess the paper, is the current strategy for ensuring quality and control in scientific research and, therefore, it is essential for the academic world. However, a new study uncovers why this system frequently receives harsh criticism about its effectiveness and transparency, and she proposes alternatives to improve it.

How and why butterflies survive fires

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 07:36 AM PDT

Deciding how often and when to use prescribed fire can be tricky, especially when managing for rare butterflies, scientists say. That realization stems from a new study in which researchers experimented with pupae -- insects in their immature form between larvae and adults -- of butterflies known to frequent fire-prone habitats of Florida.

Mechanism regulating gene expression linked to bone and joint damage in ankylosing spondylitis

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 06:18 AM PDT

A new study reveals that DNA methylation -- a mechanism that regulates gene expression -- could influence the progression of structural damage to the joints and spine in ankylosing spondylitis. Study findings showed significant associations between a low methylation score and more radiographic progression of the disease, and implicated smoking in worsening of disease outcome.

Novel method identifies children with rheumatic disease eligible for life-saving vaccine

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 06:18 AM PDT

New results have shown that the chickenpox vaccine can be effective and safe even in children with pediatric rheumatic disease receiving immunosuppression treatment. By using a checklist to pre-screen children, the investigators were able to identify diverse patient groups suitable for vaccination, protecting them from a potentially life-threatening infection.

Ultrasound identifies RA patients in clinical remission who need more intensive treatment

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 06:18 AM PDT

Two new studies have shown the importance of using ultrasound to identify those Rheumatoid Arthritis patients in clinical remission who would benefit from more intensive treatment.

Mini-breasts grown in petri dishes

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 06:15 AM PDT

About 70,000 Women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in Germany alone. Despite significant progress in the treatment of common types of breast cancer, some aggressive subtypes are poorly understood and remain incurable. A new experimental model opens new avenues for mammary gland biology and basic breast cancer research. Researchers are now able to create three-dimensional organoid-structures that recapitulate normal breast development and function from single patient-derived cells.

Why obesity predisposes to severe respiratory failure

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 06:15 AM PDT

A hormone that regulates blood sugar levels may be the key to reducing the risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome in obese patients, a new study suggests.

Biologics improve productivity and reduce missed workdays in rheumatic disease

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 06:15 AM PDT

The results of a systematic review of published studies showed that biologics improve both absenteeism (not showing up for work) and presenteeism (being at work but not functioning fully) in patients with chronic inflammatory arthritides. Rheumatic conditions are the most frequently cited reason for absence from work, and these findings suggest that biologics could significantly reduce the economic burden of these diseases.

Catalysts safely and effectively remove estrogenic compounds from wastewater

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 06:15 AM PDT

Catalysts effectively and safely remove a potent and dangerous endocrine disruptor from wastewater. Scientists have demonstrated that the catalysts could be a viable option for large-scale water treatment.

Study links gene to aggressive form of brain cancer

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 06:15 AM PDT

Scientists have identified a gene mutation linked to the development of an aggressive form of brain cancer. Researchers found that errors in a gene known as TCF12 -- which plays a key role in the formation of the embryonic brain are associated with more aggressive forms of a disease called anaplastic oligodendroglioma.

National screening program has markedly reduced breast cancer mortality

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 06:13 AM PDT

Under the Norwegian Breast Cancer Screening Program, all women aged 50 to 69 are invited for mammography screening every two years. The program was launched as a pilot project in four counties in 1995/96 and went national in 2004. The purpose of mammography examination is to detect tumors at an early enough stage to begin effective treatment and reduce mortality.

Interventions among healthy people save the most lives

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 06:13 AM PDT

Mortality from coronary heart disease declined in Sweden from 1986 to 2002. The improvement was due mainly to a reduction in risk factors among the healthy population (primary prevention) and, to a lesser extent, treatment of people who already had developed heart disease (secondary prevention). A study explores the reasons for the trend.

Exercise with a physiotherapist helps people with depression

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 06:13 AM PDT

Exercise has a positive effect on depression. A researcher evaluated exercise as add-on therapy to medicating with antidepressants. The experiments showed that people who participated in exercise aimed at increasing their physical fitness clearly improved their mental health compared with the control group.

Major health consequences for individuals with severe dental anxiety

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 06:13 AM PDT

Adults who suffer from severe dental anxiety (DA) are often dissatisfied with their appearance. The dissatisfaction may be associated with poorer oral health, depression and anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) help patients with severe DA, according to new research.

Autoimmunity: New immunoregulation and biomarker

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 06:13 AM PDT

Clinicians have elucidated a mechanism involved in determining the lifespan of antibody-producing cells, and identified a promising new biomarker for monitoring autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and lupus erythematosus.

Fighting climate change, with cement

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 06:11 AM PDT

The cement industry is one of the largest sources worldwide of carbon emissions, accounting for around five per cent of global emissions. New technologies may help substantially lower these emissions.

What are you looking at? Dogs are able to follow human gaze

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 06:11 AM PDT

Dogs are known to be excellent readers of human body language in multiple situations. Surprisingly, however, scientists have so far found that dogs do not follow human gaze into distant space. Scientists investigated how this skill of dogs is influenced by aging, habituation and formal training. The outcome: Gaze following to human gaze cues did not differ over the dogs' lifespan, however, formal training was found to directly influence gaze following in dogs.

Scientists map surface of immune cells

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 06:11 AM PDT

The immune system must constantly adapt to its environment in order to protect a body effectively. The so-called T cells are an important example in this regard. One of their functions is to form the immune system's "memory". Researchers recently examined the surface of precursors of these T cells and identified previously unknown proteins there. According to the scientists, the results could lead to new approaches for therapies for asthma and allergies.

Recurrent major depressive disorder and use of antidepressants associated with lower bone density

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 06:11 AM PDT

A recent study shows that recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD) in men is associated with lower bone density. The use of antidepressants was also associated with lower bone mineral density (BMD), but this association was dependent on the person's weight and site of bone measurement.

New, robust and inexpensive technique for protein analysis in tissues

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 06:11 AM PDT

A new technique to study proteins, which does not require advanced equipment, specialized labs or expensive reagents, has been developed. The technique could be further developed to be used in point of care devices, for instance for diagnostic purposes.

Older asthma patients at increased risk for treatment failure

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 06:06 AM PDT

Older patients with asthma are at increased risk for treatment failure, particularly those patients being treated with inhaled corticosteroids, according to a new study.

Potential new treatment for osteoporosis

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 06:06 AM PDT

Scientists have identified a new therapeutic approach that, while still preliminary, could promote the development of new bone-forming cells in patients suffering from bone loss.

All-star nanocrystals

Posted: 12 Jun 2015 06:06 AM PDT

Scientists have created perovskite nanocrystals that are stable light emitters and stellar light-to-energy converters.

Raptor tracker

Posted: 11 Jun 2015 01:12 PM PDT

In a discovery seemingly straight from the movie 'Jurassic World,' researchers have just documented a rich fossil footprint site in central China containing tracks by several kinds of dinosaurs, including raptors. From these tracks, the team has gained new insights into how raptors moved.