| 75 percent of first-time moms plan to follow vaccine schedule, study finds Posted: 05 Nov 2015 01:05 PM PST First-time expectant mothers who do not plan to follow the recommended childhood immunization schedule differ in a number of ways from mothers who do, according to a recent study. |
| NASA mission reveals speed of solar wind stripping Martian atmosphere Posted: 05 Nov 2015 12:59 PM PST NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission has identified the process that appears to have played a key role in the transition of the Martian climate from an early, warm and wet environment that might have supported surface life to the cold, arid planet Mars is today. |
| Surprising finds about drug use Posted: 05 Nov 2015 12:21 PM PST Conducting an economic analysis of drug use is a particularly difficult endeavor, but for one researcher, it just meant taking a look at the history books. |
| Study offers model to predict how microbiomes may respond to change Posted: 05 Nov 2015 12:21 PM PST Scientists studying microbiomes have created a framework for predicting how the composition of these complex microbial communities may respond to changing conditions. |
| Managed bees spread and intensify diseases in wild bees Posted: 05 Nov 2015 12:21 PM PST Wild pollinators are in decline across many parts of the world. To combat this, managed honey bees and bumblebees are frequently shipped in to provide valuable pollination services to crops. But does this practice pose any risk to the wild bees? An entomologist has examined the evidence by analyzing the large body of research done in this area to come to the conclusion that managed bees are spreading diseases to wild bees. |
| The astounding genome of the dinoflagellate Posted: 05 Nov 2015 12:21 PM PST Dinoflagellates live free-floating in the ocean or symbiotically with corals, serving up -- or as -- lunch to a host of mollusks, tiny fish and coral species. But when conditions are wrong, dinoflagellates poison shellfish beds with red tides and abandon coral reefs to a slow, bleached death. Globally, this is happening more and more often. Seeking answers, a team of researchers sequenced the complete genome of a dinoflagellate species for the first time. |
| Hubble uncovers the fading cinders of some of our galaxy's earliest homesteaders Posted: 05 Nov 2015 11:39 AM PST Using Hubble Space Telescope images, astronomers have conducted a "cosmic archeological dig" of our Milky Way's heart, uncovering the blueprints of our galaxy's early construction phase. The researchers uncovered for the first time a population of ancient white dwarfs -- smoldering remnants of once-vibrant stars that inhabited the Milky Way's core. |
| Eye drops could clear up cataracts using newly identified chemical Posted: 05 Nov 2015 11:38 AM PST A chemical that could potentially be used in eye drops to reverse cataracts, the leading cause of blindness, has been identified by a team of scientists. |
| Gut bacteria can dramatically amplify cancer immunotherapy Posted: 05 Nov 2015 11:38 AM PST Introducing certain bacteria into the digestive tracts of mice with melanoma can help their immune systems attack tumor cells. The gains were comparable to treatment with anti-cancer drugs known as checkpoint inhibitors. The combination of bacteria and anti-PD-L1 nearly abolished tumor outgrowth, report scientists. |
| New dimension to high-temperature superconductivity Posted: 05 Nov 2015 11:38 AM PST A team led by scientists have combined powerful magnetic pulses with some of the brightest X-rays on the planet to discover a surprising 3-D arrangement of a material's electrons that appears closely linked to a mysterious phenomenon known as high-temperature superconductivity. |
| Business as plan B Posted: 05 Nov 2015 11:35 AM PST Research by a sociologist suggests family leave policies have a significant impact on women's entrepreneurial activities. |
| Noise-induced hearing loss: Genetic cause, mechanism discovered Posted: 05 Nov 2015 11:35 AM PST The function of pejvakin, a molecule that plays a vital role in the hearing system, has been recently discovered by researcherse. The absence of this molecule appears to be responsible for noise-induced hearing loss, one of the most common causes of deafness. The scientists' discovery offers new prospects for the treatment of this condition. |
| Brain imaging reveals possible depression signature in traumatic brain injury Posted: 05 Nov 2015 11:35 AM PST Individuals with depression in addition to traumatic brain injury (TBI) are prone to poorer recovery, reductions in cognitive performance, greater functional disability, increased suicide attempts and other social and sexual difficulties. Since depression symptoms vary greatly, teasing apart a diagnosis in the context TBI is often difficult. However, researchers have identified a potential brain-based biomarker for depressive symptoms that could simplify the process. |
| Zebrafish reveal how axons regenerate on a proper path Posted: 05 Nov 2015 11:13 AM PST When peripheral nerves are damaged and their vital synaptic paths are disrupted, they have the ability to regenerate and reestablish lost connections. Using zebrafish, which are transparent at larval stages, the researchers identified key components that allows the nervous system to heal itself and literally obtain a whole new window into how axons regenerate. |
| Researchers identify new route for release of steroid hormones Posted: 05 Nov 2015 11:11 AM PST Little is known about the mechanisms that regulate the release of steroid hormones from endocrine tissues. The commonly accepted understanding, noted in textbooks, is that simple diffusion is at work. But new research challenges this textbook view. The researchers report that in fruit flies, the focus of their study, the release of the steroid hormone 'ecdysone' is tightly regulated by signaling pathways in the cell. |
| Watching a memory form Posted: 05 Nov 2015 11:11 AM PST Neuroscientists have discovered a novel mechanism for memory formation. Voltage-sensitive dye imaging of the swim motor program of the sea slug Tritonia reveals that some neurons possess characteristics that predispose them to join neural networks in which learning is taking place. The findings represent a shift from the field's long-term focus on synaptic plasticity. |
| Why some genes are highly expressed Posted: 05 Nov 2015 11:11 AM PST The DNA in our cells is folded into millions of small packets, like beads on a string, allowing our two-meter linear DNA genomes to fit into a nucleus of only about 0.01 mm in diameter. However, these molecular beads, called nucleosomes, render DNA 'unreadable.' They thus need to be temporarily displaced to allow genes to be copied ('transcribed') into the messages that are used to make proteins. |
| No new heart muscle cells in mice after the newborn period Posted: 05 Nov 2015 11:11 AM PST New heart muscle cells in mice are mainly formed directly after birth, new research shows. After the neonatal period the number of heart muscle cells does not change, and heart growth occurs only by cell size increase, similar to the human heart. |
| Scientists find neural match for complexity of visual world Posted: 05 Nov 2015 11:11 AM PST The complexity of the neural activity we use to process visual images reflects the intricacy of those images, a team of scientists has found. Their study offers new insights into how our brain extracts information about our natural surroundings from the light captured by our eyes. |
| Researchers strive to improve breast cancer treatment Posted: 05 Nov 2015 09:19 AM PST Creating a chemotherapeutic-resistant breast cancer cell line begins with a complete understanding of what causes resistant tumors and how to prevent them. Researchers are striving to do just that. |
| Breaking free: Scientists show how telomeric RNA molecule escapes and produces inflammatory response Posted: 05 Nov 2015 09:19 AM PST Our chromosomes contain all of our genetic information, and it's up to telomeres – structures of proteins that cap off and protect our DNA at the tips of chromosomes – to preserve the vital instructions necessary for life. There are even specific molecules like TERRA (Telomeric repeat-containing RNA) that exist specifically to regulate telomeres and promote chromosome end protection. Now, a new study has found that TERRA can be found outside of cells and serve as a potentially important cell signaling molecule that induces an inflammatory response, and this activity may play an important role in the development of cancer. |
| Religious upbringing linked to less altruism Posted: 05 Nov 2015 09:19 AM PST Children from religious families were less likely to share with others than were children from non-religious families. A religious upbringing also was associated with more punitive tendencies in response to anti-social behavior. |
| Freshwater fish, amphibians supercharge their ability to see infrared light Posted: 05 Nov 2015 09:19 AM PST Salmon migrating from the open ocean to inland waters do more than swim upstream. To navigate the murkier freshwater streams and reach a spot to spawn, the fish have evolved a means to enhance their ability to see infrared light. |
| DNA strands often 'wiggle' as part of genetic repair Posted: 05 Nov 2015 09:19 AM PST Every time a double-stranded break occurs in DNA strands, the damaged ends move about during repair, report researchers. Scientists believe a better understanding of this mysterious mechanism could improve the use of cancer treatments, some of which manipulate DNA repair in malignant cells. |
| Climate change: A wake-up call in the world of finance Posted: 05 Nov 2015 09:18 AM PST As climate changes become impossible to dismiss, how does the mainstream investor community respond? Are financial decisions taking full account of risks and opportunities related to climate change, or is the topic still virtually ignored in financial decision-making? |
| Strength of brain connectivity varies with fitness level in older adults Posted: 05 Nov 2015 09:17 AM PST A new study shows that age-related differences in brain health -- specifically the strength of connections between different regions of the brain -- vary with fitness level in older adults. |
| Researchers show how positive stimuli provide benefits to the distracted brain Posted: 05 Nov 2015 09:15 AM PST Researchers have identified how your mind processes and differentiates between positive and negative ones when you're trying to get a job done. |
| Climate change is moving mountains Posted: 05 Nov 2015 09:15 AM PST Research points to strong interaction between climate shifts and increased internal movement in the North American St. Elias Mountain Range. The researchers note that the glaciers today are wet-based and are moving, very aggressively eroding material around and out, and in the case of her observation, into the Gulf of Alaska. The tectonic forces (internal plates moving toward one another) continue to move toward Alaska, get pushed underneath and the sediment on top is piling up above the Yakutat plate. |
| Supernova twins: Making standard candles more standard than ever Posted: 05 Nov 2015 09:15 AM PST Type Ia supernovae are bright 'standard candles' for measuring cosmic distances. Standard enough to discover dark energy, they're far from identical. Researchers at the international Nearby Supernova Factory have shown that supernova twins -- those with closely matching spectra -- can double the accuracy of distance measures. |
| Guides within electronic medical records during visits help doctors provide better care Posted: 05 Nov 2015 09:15 AM PST When providers were given a structured approach to evaluating and managing stable COPD patients using information embedded into a patient's electronic medical records during outpatient visits, they provided better advanced patient assessments and other quality of care measures, new research shows. |
| Snail trails lead to climate-driven cultural shift in ancient Morocco Posted: 05 Nov 2015 09:15 AM PST Research on ancient Moroccan snails shows clear evidence for climate-induced early human agricultural production. The work suggests that natural climate change that occurred seven to six thousand years ago warmed the environment and enhanced the conditions for growing enough agriculture to help sustain the growing human population. |
| New research could help in the fight against infection, cancer and allergies Posted: 05 Nov 2015 08:37 AM PST New research has uncovered an important mechanism in the drive to understand immunological processes that protect us against infection, allergy and cancer. |
| Mindfulness training helps patients with inflammatory bowel diseases Posted: 05 Nov 2015 08:37 AM PST Training in meditation and other mindfulness-based techniques brings lasting improvements in mental health and quality of life for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), according to a study. |
| First precision medicine trial in cancer prevention identifies molecular-based chemoprevention strategy Posted: 05 Nov 2015 08:37 AM PST A genetic biomarker called loss of heterozygosity or LOH is able to predict which patients with premalignant mouth lesions are at highest risk of developing oral cancer, new research shows. |
| Why’s there chatter in my Himalayan singing bowl? Posted: 05 Nov 2015 08:37 AM PST A Himalayan singing bowl operates like a wine glass -- slide your fingertip, or a wooden stick called a puja, around its rim to hear its soothing tones. The bowls have been used for meditation and worship for centuries, but have found new audiences in contemporary music. Researchers have studied the motion of the bowl and revealed the origin of "chatter," which occurs when the puja is played against the bowl. |
| Duration of lactation associated with bone density Posted: 05 Nov 2015 08:35 AM PST Maternal bone density decreases after childbirth, but only among women who lactate for at least four months. The lactation period is unrelated to vitamin D status. |
| Three urgent steps for better protected areas Posted: 05 Nov 2015 08:34 AM PST A group of scientists has developed a three-point plan to ensure the world's protected areas meet new biodiversity targets set by the 193 signatory nations of the Convention on Biological Diversity's. |
| The great tit bird is less attractive due to exposure to heavy metals Posted: 05 Nov 2015 08:34 AM PST Heavy metals, the result of contamination, may be toxic for animals to the extent of affecting their reproduction and physiology. This is the case with the great tit, a species of bird whose plumage color is affected either negatively or positively depending on exposure to certain contaminating substances. Mercury, copper and chrome may cause the male great tit to be less attractive to the females. |
| Are you hardwired to enjoy high-calorie foods? Research links genes to heightened brain reward responses to foods high in fat and sugar Posted: 05 Nov 2015 07:39 AM PST For the first time, researchers have identified two genetic variants that interact to alter the brain responses to high-calorie foods, a tie that could aid in the development of targeted treatments for obesity and overweight. Researchers found that two gene variants - FTO and DRD2 - influenced activity in the brain reward system when looking at pictures of high-calorie foods. |
| Shape of bird wings depends on ancestors more than flight style Posted: 05 Nov 2015 07:30 AM PST In a finding that could change the way scientists think about bird evolution, researchers have found that the shape of bird wings is influenced more by how closely related species are to one another than by flight style.The research challenges scientific beliefs that assume the way a bird species flies -- whether it primarily dives, glides or flaps, for instance -- plays the primary role in the evolution of its wing shape. |
| Elephants may use trunks like 'leaf blowers' to obtain inaccessible food Posted: 05 Nov 2015 07:30 AM PST Two captive elephants blast air through their trunks to grasp hard-to-reach food, suggests an initial study. This behavior, studied in a zoo population of Asian elephants, is altered according to the distance to the food, which may indicate advanced mental ability and awareness of their physical environment. |
| Butterfly mimicry through the eyes of bird predators Posted: 05 Nov 2015 07:29 AM PST Wing color patterns of butterflies perform different signalling functions, from avoiding bird predators to attracting potential mates. Such conflicting natural and sexual selection pressures may compromise the efficacy of specific signal functions. This study shows that butterflies perhaps try to optimize signal components in sex- and wing surface-specific manners such that naturally and sexually selected signal components are partitioned on the two wing surfaces, with females being better mimics. |
| Expert system for early diagnosis of schizophrenia Posted: 05 Nov 2015 07:29 AM PST The opinion of a qualified professional is unlikely to be replaced by a computer algorithm for the diagnosis of schizophrenia. However, additional medical evidence based on such an algorithm might be useful in early diagnosis, according to new research. |
| Obesity: Is junk food really to blame? Posted: 05 Nov 2015 07:29 AM PST Soda, candy, and fast food are often painted as the prime culprits in the national discussion of obesity in the United States. While a diet of chocolate bars and cheese burgers washed down with a Coke is inadvisable from a nutritional standpoint, these foods are not likely to be a leading cause of obesity in the United States according to a new study. |
| Researchers reveal acoustic complexity of chickadee songs Posted: 05 Nov 2015 07:29 AM PST Researchers have found an alternative choice for songbird study: a small non-migratory songbird commonly found in North America known as the black-capped chickadee. Female black-capped chickadees sing and their songs are acoustically distinct from the songs of their male counterparts. What's more, the researchers say, both male and female birds can tell apart the songs of the two sexes. Sturdy will describe the new findings in a talk at ASA's Fall 2015 Meeting. |
| New research analyses the behavior of primates based on teeth remains Posted: 05 Nov 2015 06:22 AM PST New information about the diets of chimpanzees has been gained by scientists based on teeth remains. This is especially relevant because it provides objective data on behaviors revealed by diet that cannot be otherwise observed. The study is based on the register of vegetable remains preserved in the dental calculus or plaque (calcified dental plaque) of dead individuals. |
| Possible solution for side effect of Alzheimer’s immunotherapy treatment Posted: 05 Nov 2015 06:22 AM PST It is estimated that 46.8 million people worldwide are living with dementia, with Alzheimer's disease the most common form. Now researchers have discovered a possible solution for side effects seen in immunotherapy treatment for Alzheimer's. Immunotherapy is a promising strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer's that uses antibodies to stimulate the immune system to remove pieces of a protein called amyloid beta which accumulates in the brain (in deposits known as plaques) and is thought to be a major factor driving Alzheimer's neurodegenerative effects. |
| Dental implants frequently lead to complications Posted: 05 Nov 2015 06:20 AM PST Almost 8 percent of patients experience loss of at least one implant within ten years. Even more develop peri-implantitis. Patients with periodontitis run a greater risk of both implant loss and peri-implantitis, a study shows. |
| Smart fabric provides 'air conditioning' for the wearer, adjustable with a mobile app Posted: 05 Nov 2015 06:20 AM PST Scientists have developed a new high-volume production method for hot embossing microscopic channel structures onto large areas of plastic film at a low cost for use, for example, in wearable technology and cosmetic applications. One of the goals is to engineer a smart fabric adjustable with a mobile app for controlling the wearer's temperature. |
| Tumor network in brain increases treatment resistance Posted: 05 Nov 2015 06:20 AM PST Astrocytomas are special type of brain tumors that are difficult to treat, because they do not respond to standard forms of treatment. One reason for this resistance could be their ability to form a communication network, say researchers. |
| Human intervention can help endangered Saimaa ringed seal adapt to climate change Posted: 05 Nov 2015 06:20 AM PST Humans can help the critically endangered Saimaa ringed seal to cope with climate change. Human-made snow drifts developed in a recent study improved the breeding success of seals during winters with poor snow conditions. Lake Saimaa in Finland is home to the critically endangered subspecies of the ringed seal, the Saimaa ringed seal (Phoca hispida saimensis). The Saimaa ringed seal is heavily ice-associated and its breeding success depends on sufficient ice and snow cover. The loss of snow and ice caused by the ongoing climate change poses a direct threat to the subspecies, and climate change induced changes to the environment may have indirect effects, too. |
| An easy test for sickle cell disease Posted: 05 Nov 2015 06:17 AM PST A team of biomedical engineers has developed a simple, inexpensive, and quick technique for the diagnosis and monitoring of sickle cell disease that can be used in regions where advanced medical technology and training are scarce. |
| 'Fire frogs' and eel-like amphibians: The Field Museum's Brazilian fossil discovery Posted: 05 Nov 2015 06:17 AM PST Several new species of amphibians and a reptile that lived in what's now Brazil from 278 million years ago have just been discovered and described by a team of scientists from around the world, including Chicago's Field Museum. Their paper helps fill in gaps in our knowledge about fauna in the southern tropics of Pangaea. |
| In preventing return of winter blues, talk outshines light Posted: 05 Nov 2015 05:45 AM PST In the long term, cognitive behavior therapy is more effective at treating seasonal affective disorder that light therapy, considered the gold standard, a study found. Two winters after the initial treatment, 46 percent of research subjects given light therapy reported a recurrence of depression compared with 27 percent of those who were administered CBT. Depressive symptoms were also more severe for those who received light therapy. |
| Relapsing infections could challenge malaria eradication Posted: 04 Nov 2015 10:05 PM PST Eliminating malaria in the Asia-Pacific could prove more challenging than previously thought, with new research showing that most childhood malaria infections in endemic areas are the result of relapsed, not new, infections. |
| Scientists uncover mechanism that propels liver development after birth Posted: 04 Nov 2015 10:05 PM PST Internal organs continue to develop for months and years after birth. This critical period is full of cellular changes that transform the organization and function of most tissues. But the exact mechanisms underlying postnatal organ maturation are still a mystery. Now researchers report that liver cells utilize a mechanism called 'alternative splicing,' which alters how genes are translated into the proteins that guide this critical period of development. |
| Brain's immune system could be harnessed to fight Alzheimer's Posted: 04 Nov 2015 10:05 PM PST The brain's immune system could potentially be harnessed to help clear the amyloid plaques that are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, new research suggests. The findings are the culmination of years of investigation after a surprising discovery while studying mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers observed that amyloid beta plaques -- which scientists believe play a major role in the disease -- were being cleared in animals with chronic brain inflammation. |
| Spending more on patients lowers doctors' malpractice risk, study finds Posted: 04 Nov 2015 10:05 PM PST Physicians who spend more health care dollars on procedures for patients reduce their malpractice claim risk. The study affirms this widely-held assumption, tying higher spending to lower malpractice claim rates through an analysis of Florida physician and claims data. |
| Adding ultrasound to breast screening results in higher rate of detection for women Posted: 04 Nov 2015 10:05 PM PST Adding ultrasound to standard mammography tests in breast screening could result in improved rates of detection for breast cancer in women in Japan, according to a new study. |
| Earliest embryonic lethality gene identified Posted: 04 Nov 2015 10:05 PM PST A single gene (TLE6), when mutated, is responsible for human embryonic lethality at an earlier stage of development than has ever previously been documented, new research indicates. |
