| Little known about children living with HIV-infected adults in Africa Posted: 02 Dec 2015 01:00 PM PST Despite the focus in recent decades on fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa, a new study reveals that little is known about one of the area's most vulnerable populations: children living in households with HIV-infected adults. |
| Window into women's sexuality Posted: 02 Dec 2015 01:00 PM PST Heterosexual women have more diverse patterns of sexual response than previously reported, new research shows. Among women, say the authors, there is significant diversity among women in their sexual attractions to other women and men, regardless of sexual identity. |
| Dissecting paleoclimate change Posted: 02 Dec 2015 12:57 PM PST Using a core sample from the Santa Barbara Basin, researchers decipher the history of paleoclimate change with surprising results. For more than a million years, Earth's climate has oscillated from glacial (ice age) to interglacial (warm) -- the latter representing modern conditions. According to the authors, the Santa Barbara Basin holds the most pristine marine record of these fluctuations, thanks in large part to the area's unique location along the California margin. The basin is the confluence of the cool California current from the subpolar region and the warm countercurrent from the tropics. |
| Vessel speed biggest factor in noise affecting killer whales Posted: 02 Dec 2015 12:57 PM PST The speed of vessels operating near endangered killer whales in Washington is the most influential factor -- more so than vessel size -- in how much noise from the boats reaches the whales, according to a new study. |
| Climate-change foes winning public opinion war Posted: 02 Dec 2015 12:57 PM PST As world leaders meet this week and next at a historic climate change summit in Paris, a new study by environmental scientists suggests opponents of climate change appear to be winning the war of words. |
| Involvement in traditional dating abuse increases chances of cyberdating abuse in teens Posted: 02 Dec 2015 11:23 AM PST Teens who are involved in dating abuse -- as either the perpetrator or the victim -- are more likely to also be involved in cyberdating abuse, research concludes. Further, teens who commit cyberdating violence against their partners are more likely to later be victimized by it and cyberviolence victims are more likely to later perpetrate this act. |
| Carbon capture analyst: 'Coal should stay in the ground' Posted: 02 Dec 2015 11:23 AM PST Serious flaws have been found in a decade's worth of studies about the best way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stabilize the climate, report experts in a new article. |
| New studies create better understanding of cancer-spreading enzymes Posted: 02 Dec 2015 11:23 AM PST A detailed structural view of an enzyme, called MMP7, has been revealed as it binds to the membranes, or surfaces, of cancer cells. This understanding could lead to better treatments for cancer, say investigators. |
| Pneumonia 'finger clip' and better diagnostic tests could save thousands of lives Posted: 02 Dec 2015 11:22 AM PST Routinely used in hospitals, pulse oximetry is a non-invasive technology that measures oxygen in the blood, and can help doctors diagnose conditions such as pneumonia which trigger low oxygen levels. The authors argue that if pulse oximetry was made more widely available in the community, it could allow children to be diagnosed quicker and sent to hospital for life-saving oxygen and antibiotics. |
| Intestinal bacteria are affected by antidiabetic drugs, shows research Posted: 02 Dec 2015 11:22 AM PST Intestinal bacteria change their composition and function when diabetic patients are treated with the drug metformin, shows new research. In the field of disease research, changes in the composition and function of the complex intestinal bacterial communities -- so-called dysbioses -- have become a focus area. It is, however, a weakness of the studies that researchers have not taken into account the potential effects of drugs on the patients' intestinal bacteria, say investigators. |
| Age-old mystery of why cells use fermentation unraveled Posted: 02 Dec 2015 11:22 AM PST Wine, beer and yogurt are produced when microorganisms convert sugar into alcohol, gases or acids. But this process of fermentation -- which is used by bacteria, fungi and other fast-growing cells to generate energy in the absence of oxygen -- is a much less efficient way of generating energy for cells than aerobic respiration. So why do many organisms use this seemingly wasteful strategy to generate energy instead of aerobic respiration, even when oxygen is readily available? |
| Cat receives prosthetic legs, makes strides in recovery Posted: 02 Dec 2015 10:45 AM PST Vincent, a 3-year-old domestic short-haired cat that recently received prosthetic legs, is making a strong recovery. In fact, his doctor thinks he might start jumping soon. |
| New insights into the creation of heavy elements Posted: 02 Dec 2015 10:29 AM PST Alpha particles, as the nuclei of the helium atom are also called, play a decisive role in the formation of heavier elements. Carbon, for instance, is formed from the fusion of these alpha particles. If another helium nucleus is added, oxygen is formed – another prerequisite for the development of life on Earth. Scientists are now presenting a new method using supercomputers to create detailed simulations of these birth processes inside stars. The method reduces the computational effort required and for the first time makes it possible, using the Jülich supercomputer JUQUEEN, to do a complete calculation of the scattering process of two alpha particles. |
| The cosmic web: Seeing what makes up the universe Posted: 02 Dec 2015 10:29 AM PST Matter known as ordinary, which makes up everything we know, corresponds to only 5% of the Universe. Approximately half of this percentage still eluded detection. Numerical simulations made it possible to predict that the rest of this ordinary matter should be located in the large-scale structures that form the "cosmic web" at temperatures between 100,000 and 10 million degrees. A team led by a researcher observed this phenomenon directly. The research shows that the majority of the missing ordinary matter is found in the form of a very hot gas associated with intergalactic filaments. |
| Astronomers closer to explaining mysterious radio pulses from outer space Posted: 02 Dec 2015 10:29 AM PST Astronomers have tied the origin of a Fast Radio Burst to a highly magnetized, gas-filled region of space, providing a new hint in the decade-long quest to explain the mysterious radio pulses. |
| Distracted walking: A serious issue for you, not me Posted: 02 Dec 2015 10:27 AM PST A new study on distracted walking finds that more than three quarters (78 percent) of US adults believe that distracted walking is a 'serious' issue; however, 74 percent of Americans say 'other people' are usually or always walking while distracted, while only 29 percent say the same about themselves. |
| US forest products in the global economy Posted: 02 Dec 2015 10:27 AM PST Although the United States leads the world in both production and consumption of forest products, the US share of the global forest products market has declined precipitously since the 1990s. The declines are a result of decreases in US construction and paper manufacturing, according to a new study. |
| Immune system affects gut bacteria evolution Posted: 02 Dec 2015 10:27 AM PST Researchers have discovered that when the immune system of the host is compromised, the composition of the gut bacteria changes, and the pace and predictability of the process of adaptation of these bacteria are affected. This study suggests that the treatment of intestine pathologies that result from impaired immune system, such as the inflammatory bowel disease, may require therapies based on personalized medicine. |
| Money affects children's behavior, even if they don't understand its value Posted: 02 Dec 2015 10:26 AM PST The act of handling money makes young children work harder and give less, according to new research. The effect was observed in children who lacked concrete knowledge of money's purpose, and persisted despite the denomination of the money. |
| Oxytocin has different effects on stress in male and female mice Posted: 02 Dec 2015 10:26 AM PST Clinical trials are testing whether oxytocin, sometimes called the 'love hormone' for its role in intimacy and social bonding, has potential as a treatment for anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. New research by behavioral neuroscientists suggests oxytocin may have different effects in men and women -- and in certain circumstances the hormone may actually trigger anxiety. |
| Twitter data can make roads safer during inclement weather Posted: 02 Dec 2015 10:26 AM PST Go ahead, rant about the snow on Twitter. It can ease traffic on slippery, congested roads. That's the crux of a new study that examined how weather-related tweets can be analyzed to bolster computer models that, among other things, recommend safe driving speeds and which roads motorists should avoid during inclement weather. |
| Mitochondria affect stress responses Posted: 02 Dec 2015 10:25 AM PST Mitochondria, the tiny structures inside our cells that generate energy, may also play a previously unrecognized role in mind-body interactions. Based on new studies of stress responses in animals, this insight may have broad implications for human psychology and for the biology of psychiatric and neurological diseases. |
| Impression of King Hezekiah's royal seal discovered in excavations in Jerusalem Posted: 02 Dec 2015 10:25 AM PST Excavations by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem at near the southern wall of the Temple Mount have unearthed an impression of the royal seal of King Hezekiah (727-698 BCE). This is the first seal impression of an Israelite or Judean king to come to light in a scientific archaeological excavation. It brings to life the Biblical narratives about Hezekiah and activity in Jerusalem's Royal Quarter in the First Temple Period. |
| How much TV you watch as a young adult may affect midlife cognitive function Posted: 02 Dec 2015 10:25 AM PST Watching a lot of TV and having a low physical activity level as a young adult were associated with worse cognitive function 25 years later in midlife, according to an article. |
| Review does not support monthly lab testing for oral isotretinoin use for acne Posted: 02 Dec 2015 10:25 AM PST A review of medical literature does not support monthly laboratory testing for all patients who are using standard doses of the acne medication isotretinoin. Isotretinoin has been associated with several adverse effects, including teratogenicity (causing birth defects) and hyperlipidemia. Prior studies have looked at the usefulness of laboratory monitoring during isotretinoin therapy. |
| Survival has improved for women with stage IV breast cancer Posted: 02 Dec 2015 10:25 AM PST A study that included more than 20,000 women with stage IV breast cancer finds that survival has improved and is increasingly of prolonged duration, particularly for some women undergoing initial breast surgery, according to the report. |
| Pushing the limits of solar cells Posted: 02 Dec 2015 09:49 AM PST Scientists have introduced a new strategy for generating more efficient solar cells. |
| Genetic mutations differ within a single tumor Posted: 02 Dec 2015 09:46 AM PST When researchers looked at different areas within an individual rectal cancer sample, they found cases in which each area contained different genetic mutations. The findings could have significant implications for treatment recommendations. |
| Novel pestivirus affecting swine discovered by researchers Posted: 02 Dec 2015 09:46 AM PST A pestivirus affecting swine has been discovered by researchers, who also have developed diagnostic tests to identify it. The researchers identified the virus as a member of the aptly name pestivirus family. A sample submitted to the lab by a veterinarian in North Carolina came from a swine herd where uncontrollable shaking, or intention tremors, was observed and resulted in the death of nearly 700 pigs. |
| Neonicotinoid pesticides linked to butterfly declines in the UK Posted: 02 Dec 2015 09:46 AM PST The use of neonicotinoid pesticides may be contributing to the decline of butterflies in the UK, a new study has revealed. This is the first scientific evidence of a possible negative impact on widespread UK butterflies. |
| New plastic solar cell minimizes loss of photon energy Posted: 02 Dec 2015 09:42 AM PST Scientists demonstrate an unconventional means to achieve more efficient and robust conversion of solar energy into electricity. |
| Antibody developed to save cancerous bones Posted: 02 Dec 2015 09:42 AM PST Osteosarcoma (OS) is a rare cancer most often affecting adolescents and children. While most bone cancers have their origin in other body tissues and spread to the bones through metastases, OS originates in the bone tissue. Researchers now show that OS cells degrade the bone tissue through a completely different process than metastasized bone cancer. Through treatment with a specific antibody, the researchers blocked the process and reduced up to 80 percent of bone degradation in a cancer model. |
| Studying stonefish venom may help combat transplant rejection Posted: 02 Dec 2015 09:42 AM PST The X-ray crystal structure of the lethal factor present in stonefish venom has been solved by researchers. The discovery has provided unexpected insight into a crucial human immune response that is responsible for the failure of up to 30 percent of bone marrow transplant therapies for treating leukemia. |
| Determinant factors for energy consumption, perception of energy conservation clarified Posted: 02 Dec 2015 09:42 AM PST Change in lifestyle is a key component to realizing a low-carbon society. A research group examined determinant factors associated with the residential consumption and perception of savings of electricity and gas based on data collected from a large-scale survey in Suita City, Osaka, Japan, in two different years: 2009 and 2013, and 'household income,' 'actual amount of energy consumption,' and 'perception of energy savings' were identified as three closely related elements. |
| Contact sports played by amateurs increase risk of degenerative disorder, evidence suggests Posted: 02 Dec 2015 06:54 AM PST Scientists have recently found evidence that professional football players are susceptible to a progressive degenerative disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is caused by repetitive brain trauma. Now, researchers have discovered a significant and surprising amount of CTE in males who had participated in amateur contact sports in their youth. |
| Students build electric-powered personal flying machine Posted: 02 Dec 2015 06:54 AM PST Engineering students have successfully built Singapore's first personal flying machine, dubbed Snowstorm, which they envision as a clean and simple way to realize our dreams of flying. |
| Potentially dangerous molecules detected in e-cigarette aerosols Posted: 02 Dec 2015 06:54 AM PST Electronic cigarettes produce highly-reactive free radicals -- molecules associated with cell damage and cancer -- and may pose a health risk to users, according to researchers. |
| Global bicycle ownership has halved in 30 years Posted: 02 Dec 2015 06:52 AM PST New data could help policy makers boost cycling as sustainable transport. It's time for us to get on our bikes if we want cycling to make an impact as a sustainable mode of transport. New research shows that the proportion of households that own bikes has declined globally, with the average over 148 countries falling by half in the last few decades. |
| How temperature shifts the circadian clock Posted: 02 Dec 2015 06:51 AM PST One important aspect of the internal time-keeping system continues to perplex scientists: its complex response to temperature, which can shift the clock forward or backward, but cannot change its 24-hour period. New experiments help explain how this is possible. |
| Tiny new North Pacific fossil whale from 30 million years ago Posted: 02 Dec 2015 06:51 AM PST A new species of fossil baleen whale that lived in the North Pacific Ocean 30 to 33 million years ago has been described. The whale, named Fucaia buelli by the researchers, is transitional between ancient toothed whales and the baleen whales of modern seas. It is one of the oldest baleen whales ever found and, at a length of about 2-2.5m, also one of the smallest. |
| Accidental discovery of how to stay young for longer works in worms Posted: 02 Dec 2015 06:51 AM PST In a new study, researchers administered an antidepressant called mianserin to Caenorhabditis elegans, a type of roundworm used frequently in research. In 2007, they discovered that the drug increases the lifespan of roundworms by 30-40 per cent. Their new goal was to investigate how. |
| We change after we start dating, study suggests Posted: 02 Dec 2015 06:51 AM PST Researchers put to test the hypothesis that adolescents become less similar to their friends and more similar to romantic partners after they start a new romantic relationship. This first study to use longitudinal data is a stark reminder how the peer social world changes during adolescence, and same-sex friends become less important and romantic affiliations become more important. |
| False-positive mammograms may indicate increased risk of breast cancer later Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:49 AM PST Women with a history of a false-positive mammogram result may be at increased risk of developing breast cancer for up to 10 years after the false-positive result, according to a new study. |
| Have scientists cracked clothes to power your phone? Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:47 AM PST Industrial design researchers have solved two of the major challenges which prevent everyday items of clothing being turned into power sources for smartphones, tablets and other personal tech. |
| Even the tiniest plastics found in the sea with new technology Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:45 AM PST Studies have estimated that each year between 4 and 12 million tonnes of plastics end up in the sea, and that the figure is expected to double over the next ten years. But we have only begun to learn what happens with the plastics afterwards. Two students have now developed a method that can measure the microplastics that other methods overlook. |
| Chemicals that make plants defend themselves could replace pesticides Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:45 AM PST Chemical triggers that make plants defend themselves against insects could replace pesticides, causing less damage to the environment. New research identifies five chemicals that trigger rice plants to fend off a common pest – the white-backed planthopper, Sogatella furcifera. Pesticides are used around the world to control insects that destroy crops. However, in recent years their use has been criticized, because of the detrimental effect they can have on ecosystems, ravaging food chains and damaging the environment. One of the problems with many pesticides is that they kill indiscriminately. |
| Novel intestinal bacterium provides human gut with healthy compounds Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:45 AM PST Fibers in our food are thought to be good for health since they are converted in the intestinal tract into the favorable compound butyrate, that is crucial to maintain intestinal health. In contrast, protein is believed to be less healthy since intestinal fermentation of the building blocks of proteins, amino acids, generates undesired compounds. This latter picture is now changing since a novel intestinal bacterium has been isolated by researchers. |
| Ceramic particles supply digital X-ray plates 'from an aerosol can' Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:45 AM PST Digital X-ray systems have become a vital part of health care. The analog X-ray film of the past has been replaced by digital flat panel detectors. Today's detectors are sensitive but quite expensive and have limited resolution. Now, scientists have succeeded in developing new materials for detectors: they embedded ceramic particles in a conductive plastic. The components of these "composite detectors" can be stirred into a solvent and then applied like paint by spraying. This means that, in future, it might be possible to manufacture X-ray detectors inexpensively and on a large scale with greater image resolution. |
| Keeping emotions under control with neurofeedback Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:44 AM PST Childhood and adolescence are ages of constant change and crucial experiences. At times the emotional weight can be difficult to manage and may lead to psychological issues in adulthood. Neurofeedback is a method that helps individuals to keep their brain activity (for example a response to an emotional event ) under control. While routinely used on adults, a new study demonstrates that the technique shows promise for young people as well. |
| Can vitamin D levels be determined by genes? Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:44 AM PST Certain genetic variations increase the risk of having a lower level of vitamin D. This is the finding of a PhD project from Denmark, which has examined the effect of eating vitamin D fortified foods or receiving artificial UVB irradiation during the winter months. The fortified diet and artificial sunlight had less of an effect on vitamin D status in people with certain genetic variations. The results can be used to identify people who are genetically predisposed to having lower levels of vitamin D. |
| Incarcerated mothers impact children's future criminal involvement Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:43 AM PST Children of incarcerated mothers are twice as likely to be arrested, convicted and incarcerated as adults, according to a new study. The survey, conducted in four waves, includes data on social, economic, psychological, and physical well-being, as well as information on the family, neighborhood, community, school, friendships, peer groups, and romantic relationships, to see how behavior and environment are linked to health and achievement outcomes. |
| Experts urge early evaluation of fracture risk in diabetics Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:43 AM PST Despite an up to six-fold increased risk of fragility fractures in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients, there is a general lack of knowledge about the complex relationship between bone and diabetes. In order to promote understanding of the latest advances and to encourage early evaluation of fracture risk, a group of experts has now published a scientific review which highlights new information regarding fracture risk in T1DM patients. |
| Swimming devices could deliver drugs inside the body Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:43 AM PST A new method of guiding microscopic swimming devices has the potential to deliver drugs to a targeted location inside the body, according to new research. These devices, which are a similar size to cells and bacteria -- around a hundredth of the average diameter of a strand of human hair -- could be used to deliver drugs to a specific location inside the body or outside of the body to diagnose diseases in blood samples, say scientists. |
| Liquid metal 'nano-terminators' target cancer cells Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:42 AM PST A new drug delivery technique has been developed that uses a biodegradable liquid metal to target cancer cells. The liquid metal drug delivery method promises to boost the effect of cancer drugs. |
| How bacterial predators evolved to kill other bacteria without harming themselves Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:42 AM PST How predatory bacteria function has been little understood to date. Predators have been found to produce a protein 'antidote' that protects them from their own weapons. Understanding how these predators attack bacteria could provide new ways of combatting antimicrobial resistance, say experts. |
| Even thermally tolerant corals are in hot water when it comes to bleaching Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:42 AM PST Scientists have discovered that corals adapted to naturally high temperatures, such as those off the north west coast of Australia, are nonetheless highly susceptible to heat stress and bleaching. |
| Quantum spin on molecular computers Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:42 AM PST If quantum computers existed, they would revolutionize computing as we know it. Based on fundamental properties of matter, the potential power of these theoretical workhorses would solve problems in a new way, cracking extremely complex spy codes and precisely modeling chemical systems in a snap. Researchers have now created cleverly designed molecules to get one step closer to this goal. |
| CT and 3-D printing aid surgical separation of conjoined twins Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:42 AM PST A combination of detailed CT imaging and 3-D printing technology has been used for the first time in the surgical planning for separation of conjoined twins, according to a new study. |
| Breast density alone not a risk factor for cancer, study suggests Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:42 AM PST Breast density may not be a strong independent factor for breast cancer risk, according to a new study. Prior research has shown an association between breast density and breast cancer. In addition, cancers in dense breast tissue are more difficult to see on mammograms. As a result, some women with dense breasts are advised to get supplementary screening with ultrasound or MRI. Some U.S. states have enacted legislation mandating breast density reporting to women undergoing mammography |
| Link found between early-stage brain and heart disease Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:42 AM PST A connection between very early stages of brain and heart disease has been identified by researchers in the Netherlands studying thousands of healthy adults. |
