Thursday, March 24, 2016

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Businesses who put customers and employees first flourish

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 04:01 PM PDT

Volumes have been written about successful business, political and historical leaders. A new book offers a practical guide to being the kind of leader that creates a new business, instead of rehashing an old one.

Can too much talent harm your team's performance?

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 04:01 PM PDT

Research shows why a team needs a range of talent levels to be most successful.

Shuffling may be best cybersecurity defense

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 04:00 PM PDT

Researchers propose a "moving-target" defense against distributed denial-of-service attacks. The defense works by repeatedly shuffling client-to-server assignments to identify and eventually quarantine malicious clients.

Researchers identify new cause of inherited neuropathy

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 03:56 PM PDT

Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease is a family of inherited disorders of the peripheral nervous system, affecting approximately one in 2,500 Americans. Its most common iteration, CMT1, comes in many forms, most of which have to date been linked to a small set of causative genes. New research recently uncovered a new genetic cause of CMT1.

Modified maggots could help human wound healing

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 03:56 PM PDT

In a proof-of-concept study, researchers show that genetically engineered green bottle fly larvae can produce and secrete a human growth factor -- a molecule that helps promote cell growth and wound healing.

Generosity and commitment to causes improve when giving is personal

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 03:56 PM PDT

Whether the call to action is to support an important cause, save a life, or offer monetary support, new research shows it's the personal connection of giving that makes the giver feel more generous. This giving of oneself, from a signature to blood, increases feelings of generosity and in turn, increases the likelihood of continued support of a cause.

Digital health tool helps cardiac rehab patients shed more pounds

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 03:56 PM PDT

Adding a digital health tool to traditional cardiac rehabilitation appears to help people recovering from a heart attack lose significantly more weight in a relatively short period of time, according to new research.

Missed opportunities to avoid painful shocks at the end of life

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 03:55 PM PDT

Many patients who have a common medical device known as an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) are unaware that the device can be deactivated to prevent painful shocks in their final days of life.

Long naps, daytime sleepiness tied to greater risk of metabolic syndrome

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 03:55 PM PDT

Taking long naps or being excessively tired during the day is associated with a higher risk for developing metabolic syndrome, according to a new study.

Depression after heart disease diagnosis tied to heart attack, death

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 03:55 PM PDT

New research shows patients with a history of chest discomfort due to coronary artery disease -- a build up of plaque in the heart's arteries -- who are subsequently diagnosed with depression are much more likely to suffer a heart attack or die compared with those who are not depressed.

Two decades have brought little change for women in cardiology

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 03:55 PM PDT

Female cardiologists are less likely than their male counterparts to get married and have children and more likely to face challenges related to child care, family leave policies and professional discrimination, according to a new study.

Women, men with suspected heart disease have similar symptoms

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 03:55 PM PDT

Chest pain and shortness of breath are the most common symptoms reported by both women and men with suspected heart disease, a finding that is in contrast to prior data.

Statewide initiative associated with improved cardiac arrest outcomes

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 03:55 PM PDT

Statewide efforts to equip family members and the general public with the know-how and skills to use cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in the home or in public coincide with improved survival and reduced brain injury in people with sudden cardiac arrest.

Many women not properly informed of heart risk by their doctors

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 03:55 PM PDT

Although nearly three-quarters of women taking a recent survey had one or more risk factors for heart disease, a startlingly small proportion -- just 16 percent -- had actually been told by their doctors that these factors put them at risk for heart disease.

Making molecules comfy: Ultimate challenge for 'glass guy'

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 12:25 PM PDT

For 30 years, one researcher has been exploring the fundamental properties of organic glass while inventing ways to control the placement of molecules and slow the degradation of a substance that does not have the rigidity of a crystal.

Efforts to curtail world temps will almost surely fail

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 12:25 PM PDT

The goals set a few months ago in Paris to prevent further rising of worldwide temperatures are almost sure to fail and will never be achieved, according to a new study.

The tougher men think they are, the less likely they are to be honest with doctors

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 12:20 PM PDT

Men are less likely than women to go to the doctor, more likely to choose a male doctor when they do go, but less likely to be honest with that doctor about their symptoms, psychologists have found. The researchers believe this may contribute to men's dying earlier than women.

Tooth loss increases the risk of diminished cognitive function

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 12:20 PM PDT

A team of researchers systematically assessed the association between oral health and cognitive function in adult populations, and found that there is an association between tooth loss and reduced cognitive function.

Unlocking the secrets of gene expression

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 12:20 PM PDT

Using cryo-electron microscopy, scientists have made a breakthrough in our understanding of how our molecular machinery finds the right DNA to copy for making proteins, showing with unprecedented detail the role of a powerhouse transcription factor known as TFIID.

Earth's moon wandered off axis billions of years ago

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 12:20 PM PDT

A new study reports Earth's moon wandered off its original axis roughly 3 billion years ago. Ancient lunar ice indicates the moon's axis slowly shifted by 125 miles, or 6 degrees, over 1 billion years. Earth's moon now a member of solar system's exclusive 'true polar wander' club, which includes just a handful of other planetary bodies.

Brain stimulation may reduce symptoms, improve decision-making in people with anorexia

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 12:20 PM PDT

Core symptoms of anorexia nervosa, including the urge to restrict food intake and feeling fat, are reduced after just one session of a noninvasive brain stimulation technique, according new research.

Breakthrough in diagnosis of melanoma skin cancer

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 12:18 PM PDT

Researchers have revealed a remarkable link between malignant melanoma and a non-coding RNA gene called SAMMSON. The SAMMSON gene is expressed in human malignant melanoma and, strikingly, the growth of aggressive skin cancer is highly dependent on this gene. The conclusions could pave the way for improved diagnostic tools and skin cancer treatment.

Scientists pinpoint brain circuit for risk preference in rats

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 12:18 PM PDT

Investigators have identified a small group of nerve cells in a specific brain region of rats whose signaling activity, or lack of it, explains the vast bulk of differences in risk-taking preferences among the animals.

Prooxidants may fix metabolic defect in arthritis-driving T cells

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 12:18 PM PDT

Researchers have uncovered a metabolic defect that spurs T cells to go rogue in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Pit bull label may triple length of stay in dog shelters

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 12:18 PM PDT

Dogs labeled as 'pit bulls' may wait three times as long to be adopted from shelters than differently labeled lookalikes, new research demonstrates.

Seizure drug Gabapentin lowers postoperative nausea and vomiting risk

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 11:28 AM PDT

The anticonvulsant medication gabapentin—already a useful part of strategies to control pain after surgery—also effectively reduces the common complication of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), reports a study.

Teen dating violence prevention programs fall short

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 11:24 AM PDT

While teen dating violence prevention programs increased knowledge and changed student attitudes to be less supportive of such behavior, they did not actually reduce dating violence, according to this meta-analysis of research on middle- and high school intervention programs, report investigators.

Study examines where, why New York City retailers sell organic foods

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 11:24 AM PDT

A store's decision to sell organic food depends on its neighborhood demographics, and the range of organic foods offered for sale is linked to the size of the store, finds research.

Tracing star formation rates in distant galaxies

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 11:23 AM PDT

Researchers have observed 17 bright distant galaxies with the MOSFIRE high-resolution near-infrared spectrometer at the W. M. Keck Observatory telescopes. Then, they combined the spectra with infrared images of the Spitzer Space Telescope, the Herschel Space Observatory, and optical images of the Hubble Space Telescope, to create a complete multi-wavelength picture of their galaxies: from rest-frame ultraviolet to rest-frame far-infrared.

Workplace status matters, but not in the way you think

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 11:23 AM PDT

Are employees more likely to help co-workers above them or beneath them in the corporate pecking order? A new study suggests that may be the wrong question to ask. Researchers found that workers are most likely to help colleagues who are moderately distant from themselves in status -- both above and below them.

People with rage disorder twice as likely to have latent toxoplasmosis parasite infection

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 11:23 AM PDT

Individuals with a psychiatric disorder involving recurrent bouts of extreme, impulsive anger -- road rage, for example -- are more than twice as likely to have been exposed to a common parasite than healthy individuals with no psychiatric diagnosis. In a study involving 358 adult subjects, researchers found that toxoplasmosis, a relatively harmless parasitic infection carried by an estimated 30 percent of all humans, is associated with intermittent explosive disorder and increased aggression.

Academic superheroes? A critical analysis of academic job descriptions

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 09:05 AM PDT

Traditionally, a PhD was seen as a prestigious qualification where individuals, working on their own initiative, demonstrated their talent, academic excellence and a thirst for knowledge. It opened doors to the academic community and guaranteed an advantage in the job market. However, for the last decade, debate has raged about the nature and purpose of the PhD -- including its role as preparation for working in academia. Is a PhD enough to secure a job in academia anymore?

Record-speed data transmission could make big data more accessible

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 09:03 AM PDT

With record-breaking speeds for fiber-optic data transmission, engineers have paved a fast lane on the information superhighway -- creating on-ramps for big data in the process.

DNA molecules directly interact with each other based on sequence, study finds

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 08:59 AM PDT

Proteins play a large role in DNA regulation, but a new study finds that DNA molecules directly interact with one another in a way that's dependent on the sequence of the DNA and epigenetic factors. This could have implications for how DNA is organized in the cell and even how genes are regulated in different cell types, the researchers say.

Quasars slowed star formation, new research shows

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 08:59 AM PDT

Research has found new persuasive evidence that could help solve a longstanding mystery in astrophysics: why did the pace of star formation in the universe slow down some 11 billion years ago?

Children with cardiomyopathy benefit from treating entire family, new study suggests

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 08:59 AM PDT

New research shows how more severe cases of pediatric cardiomyopathy-linked heart disease are associated with reduced 'quality of life and functional status,' which can have a negative impact on families of the patients and thus contribute to poor outcomes.

Merits of fish oil supplements examined

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 08:59 AM PDT

The effects of fish oil supplements on muscle growth has been investigated by a team of academics, revealing the tablets do not give gym-goers an advantage in the weight room.

Paradigm shift: 'We need to study lumps of bacteria'

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 08:59 AM PDT

New research reveals that bacteria which agglutinate before entering the body are far more resistant than single-celled bacteria. This may be the cause of chronic infections, say scientists.

Anatomy of pain

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 08:59 AM PDT

Emotions consist of general components that are also elicited by similar impressions and specific components, report researchers. Previous studies have shown that the same brain structures -- namely the anterior insula and the cingulate cortex - are activated, irrespective of whether the pain is personally experienced or empathetic.

Savage world for frogs: Biologist discovers clues about frog deaths

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 08:56 AM PDT

A researcher is obsessed with frogs and figuring out why they are dying at an unprecedented rate around the world. Her latest research suggests that natural selection as well as other evolutionary forces have shaped the evolution of immune genes in lowland leopard frog populations helping them survive a deadly fungus that's killing off many other species worldwide.

You taste like mercury, said the spider to the fly

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 08:56 AM PDT

More mercury than previously thought is moving from aquatic to land food webs when stream insects are consumed by spiders, a new study shows. The findings shed new light on the influence of dissolved organic carbon in the spread of mercury contamination.

Treating withdrawal symptoms could help cannabis users quit, study finds

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 08:56 AM PDT

Treating symptoms of cannabis withdrawal could help heavy users stay clean longer, finds a new study. Marijuana's long half-life and users' reports of primarily psychological withdrawal symptoms have fueled the longstanding controversy among clinicians and researchers about whether physiological dependency and withdrawal symptoms actually occur.

Green light stops sea turtle deaths

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 08:56 AM PDT

Attaching green battery powered light-emitting diodes (LED) to gillnets used by a small-scale fishery reduced the number of green turtle deaths by 64 per cent, without reducing the intended catch of fish, new research demonstrates.

Protecting coral reefs with bubbles

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 08:56 AM PDT

Bubbles -- yes, bubbles -- could help protect coral reefs, oyster farms, and other coastal ecosystems from increasing ocean acidification, according to new research.

Study demonstrates possibility of changing behavior of the gaze by transcranial magnetic stimulation

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 08:56 AM PDT

New work has shown that transcranial magnetic stimulation (noninvasive and painless) of the STS can selectively and transiently inhibit the subject's gaze into the eyes of the person speaking to them. It offers new therapeutic prospects for autistic patients precisely presenting anatomical and functional differences of the superior temporal sulcus.

Brad Pitt's and fruit flies' cowlicks controlled by cancer protein

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 08:55 AM PDT

What does Brad Pitt have in common with a fruit fly? His Hollywood hairstyles cover a prominent cowlick -- the swirl of hair that that is caused by a patterning mechanism also active in our two-winged friends -- that similarly feature 'polarized' hair patterns.

New world record in 5G wireless spectrum efficiency

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 08:55 AM PDT

New research by engineers has demonstrated how a massive antenna system can offer a 12-fold increase in spectrum efficiency compared with current 4G cellular technology.

Reconstructing the cell surface in a test tube

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 08:54 AM PDT

Using component parts, namely fats and proteins, scientists build a minimal model of the cell surface in a test tube. This reconstruction creates a crucial new tool that researchers can use to test theories on cell surface dynamics.

Survey finds positive view towards living kidney donation

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 08:54 AM PDT

Researchers examined the willingness of voting US citizens to become living kidney donors and to determine the potential influence of compensation for donation.

Cellular 'light switch' analyzed using neutron scattering

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 07:32 AM PDT

The internal movements of proteins can be important for their functionality; researchers are discovering more and more examples of this. Now, with the aid of neutron spectroscopy, dynamic processes have also been detected in so-called "LOV photoreceptors". These proteins are widely distributed throughout nature and are of biotechnological relevance. The results highlight the immense potential of neutron scattering experiments for the analysis of cellular processes.

Predicting severe hail storms

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 07:16 AM PDT

Researchers used the Stampede supercomputer to gain a better understanding of the conditions that cause severe hail to form, and to produce hail forecasts with far greater accuracy than those currently used operationally. The model the team used are six times more resolved that the National Weather Service's highest-resolution official forecasts.

Safety of Whistler sliding track comparable to other tracks

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 07:16 AM PDT

High speed and athlete inexperience are top contributing factors to injuries and accidents on the Whistler sliding track, according to a new study conducted following the death of an athlete during a training run before the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Blurred lines: Human sex chromosome swapping occurs more often than previously thought

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 07:16 AM PDT

It turns out that the rigid 'line in the sand' over which the human sex chromosomes -- the Y and X -- go to avoid crossing over is a bit blurrier than previously thought. Contrary to the current scientific consensus, new research shows that X and Y DNA swapping may occur much more often.

Optimizing flutter shutter to minimize camera blur

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 07:16 AM PDT

Photographers typically have minimal control over scene lighting; often the only way to improve a digital camera's sensitivity is by increasing exposure time. Unfortunately, this also increases the chance of either the camera or the scene moving during the exposure process, resulting in motion blur that lessens photo quality. In a new paper, authors develop a closed formula meant to reduce motion blur.

Identifying threats before they spread

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 05:28 AM PDT

If an infectious disease outbreak or an attack using an agent such as anthrax were to occur in Chicago, it most likely first will be noticed in emergency rooms throughout the city. Swift identification of the cause of an incoming patients' illness could be crucial to public health and safety personnel being able to intervene in time to save lives, say researchers.

Assay developed to find a cure for Zika virus

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 05:28 AM PDT

Researchers report the development of a unique antiviral assay - a test that can be used by researchers worldwide to detect the Zika virus in infected cell cultures.

Gently rotating small organisms, cells for the first time in a microfluidic device

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 05:28 AM PDT

A method using acoustic waves in a microfluidic device to rotate single particles, cells or organisms will allow researchers to take three dimensional images with only a cell phone, a new report suggests.

Child alert systems save lives

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 05:27 AM PDT

Child alert systems for endangered missing and abducted children in Europe can help find them alive, preliminary research has found. The research is the first to examine child alert systems in Europe -- specifically the UK, the Netherlands, Czech Republic and Poland -- which between them issued 19 of the 23 alerts in Europe in 2015.

World first as 3,000-year-old Chinese oracle bones go 3D

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 05:25 AM PDT

Priceless objects scanned with hospital technology more commonly used for surgery.

Plant's morning calls to prepare for the night

Posted: 23 Mar 2016 05:25 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered clock genes in plants that regulate the circadian rhythm. The circadian clock is considered to consist of mutual regulation between multiple genes, but this complicated network of genes and molecules has not yet been fully clarified.

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