ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Positive, negative effects of smartphone use and exercise
• Study matches infant stiff-joint syndromes to possible genetic origins
• New insight into inflammatory bowel disease may lead to better treatments
• Economic burden of cancer extends into survivorship
• Long-term depression may double stroke risk despite treatment
• Testing hand-grip strength could be a simple, low-cost way to predict heart attack and stroke risk
• Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy achieves better overall survival than surgery for early lung cancer
• Device may allow sensations in prosthetic hands
• Medical marijuana pill may not be effective in treating behavioral symptoms of dementia
• No laughing matter: Some perfectionists have a dark side
• New shortcut to solar cells
• 'Swing-dancing' pairs of electrons discovered
• Satellite mapping reveals agricultural slowdown in Latin America
• When it comes to testosterone, more isn't always better
• 80 percent of Burmese long-tailed macaques use stone-tools to hammer food
• Trap-jaw ants jump with their jaws to escape the antlion's den
• How noise affects the palate: When flying, taste buds prefer savory tomato
• Two Large Hadron Collider experiments first to observe rare subatomic process
• Ancient skeleton shows leprosy may have spread to Britain from Scandinavia
• Infant antibiotic use linked to adult diseases
• Children often have a closer relationship with their pet than their siblings
• New fermion microscope able to see up to 1,000 individual fermionic atoms
• How rivers regulate global carbon cycle
• Brain compass keeps flies on course, even in the dark
• Cause of galactic death: Strangulation
• Persistence yields progress in AIDS vaccine research
• New nanomaterials inspired by bird feathers play with light to create color
• Memory and the hippocampus: New work challenges old beliefs
• Highly competitive geographic areas have a higher annual number of liver transplants
• No difference in post-op complications for pregnant women undergoing general surgery
• The infant gut microbiome: New studies on its origins and how it's knocked out of balance
• Historical land use an important factor for carbon cycling in northern lakes
• Scientists identify interferon beta as likely culprit in persistent viral infections
• Potential obesity treatment targets the two sides of appetite: Hunger and feeling full
• How used coffee grounds could make some food more healthful
• Depression intensifies anger in veterans with PTSD
• 'Supercool' material glows when you write on it
• Playing games can shift attitudes, study shows
• Novel biomarkers may provide guide to personalized hepatitis C therapy
• 'Extreme' exposure to secondhand cannabis smoke causes mild intoxication
• Learning entrepreneurship: Starting a business is a matter of adequate training
• Physicists observe attosecond real-time restructuring of electron cloud in molecule
• Spores for thought: Study provides new insights into Clostridium spores
• Measures of students' 'non-cognitive' skills for teacher evaluation, school accountability, or student diagnosis
• Androgen deprivation therapy may lead to cognitive impairment in prostate cancer patients
• Fracking may affect air quality, human health
• Drug perks up old muscles and aging brains
• U.S. beekeepers lost 40 percent of bees in 2014-15
• What's the forecast? Cutting off the supply of psychoactive substances
• Average-sized models could sell more fashion, research suggests
• Childhood obesity influenced by how kids are fed, not just what they eat
• Brains of smokers who quit successfully might be wired for success
• Men: Wearing red can make you appear angry, dominant
• Bacteria shown to suppress their antibiotic-resistant cousins
• Can diet and exercise prevent muscle loss in old age? Maybe not
• Antarctic ice shelf is thinning from above and below
• New insights into the male bias of autism
• Research finds differences in the brains and behavior of girls and boys with autism
• Study attributes varying explosivity to gaseous state within volcanic conduits
• Stainless staining provides a new tool for clinicians and researchers

Positive, negative effects of smartphone use and exercise Posted: 13 May 2015 06:20 PM PDT Researchers assessed how common smartphone uses -- texting and talking -- interfere with treadmill exercise.The researchers found that when individuals use their smartphones during exercise for texting or talking, it causes a reduction in exercise intensity.

Study matches infant stiff-joint syndromes to possible genetic origins Posted: 13 May 2015 06:20 PM PDT For the first time, a study has matched dozens of infantile diseases and syndromes involving muscle weakness and stiff joints to their likely genetic origins. The study's goal is to better enable physicians and geneticists to advance new treatments that might help these children.

New insight into inflammatory bowel disease may lead to better treatments Posted: 13 May 2015 06:20 PM PDT A newly discovered link between bacteria and immune cells sheds light on inflammatory bowel disease, an autoimmune condition that affects 1.6 million people in the United States, according to researchers. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are the most common forms of IBD, an autoimmune condition that is thought to develop based on genetic and environmental factors.

Economic burden of cancer extends into survivorship Posted: 13 May 2015 06:11 PM PDT The economic burden of cancer extends beyond diagnosis and treatment, and concludes that cancer survivors face thousands of dollars of excess medical expenses every year, a new study concludes. Researchers found the total annual economic burden per nonelderly cancer survivor was $20,238 for colorectal, $14,202 for breast, and $9,278 for prostate cancer. Elderly cancer survivors also bear significant total economic burden (colorectal: $18,860; breast: $14,351; prostate: $16,851).

Long-term depression may double stroke risk despite treatment Posted: 13 May 2015 06:07 PM PDT Long-term depression may double the risk of stroke for middle-aged adults, research suggests. The scientists add that reducing symptoms of depression may not immediately reduce the elevated stroke risk.

Testing hand-grip strength could be a simple, low-cost way to predict heart attack and stroke risk Posted: 13 May 2015 06:01 PM PDT Weak grip strength is linked with shorter survival and a greater risk of having a heart attack or stroke, according to an international study involving almost 140,000 adults from 17 culturally and economically diverse countries.

Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy achieves better overall survival than surgery for early lung cancer Posted: 13 May 2015 06:00 PM PDT Patients with operable stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) could achieve better overall survival rates if treated with Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR) rather than the current standard of care – invasive surgery – according to research from a phase III randomized international study.

Device may allow sensations in prosthetic hands Posted: 13 May 2015 01:39 PM PDT A team of engineers and researchers is working to allow those with upper limb prosthetics to feel hot and cold and the sense of touch through their prosthetic hands.

Medical marijuana pill may not be effective in treating behavioral symptoms of dementia Posted: 13 May 2015 01:39 PM PDT Medical marijuana pills may not help treat behavioral symptoms of dementia, such as aggression, pacing and wandering, a new study concludes. However, researchers did find that the drug dosage used in the clinical trial was safe and well-tolerated.

No laughing matter: Some perfectionists have a dark side Posted: 13 May 2015 11:58 AM PDT The type of perfectionist who sets impossibly high standards for others has a bit of a dark side. They tend to be narcissistic, antisocial and to have an aggressive sense of humor. They care little about social norms and do not readily fit into the bigger social picture, a new article suggests.

New shortcut to solar cells Posted: 13 May 2015 11:58 AM PDT Scientists find gold electrodes can serve as catalysts to make black silicon for solar cells. The discovery could streamline the manufacturing process.

'Swing-dancing' pairs of electrons discovered Posted: 13 May 2015 11:58 AM PDT Scientists have discovered electrons that can 'swing dance.' This unique electronic behavior can potentially lead to new families of quantum devices.

Satellite mapping reveals agricultural slowdown in Latin America Posted: 13 May 2015 11:58 AM PDT For the first time, satellite mapping of Latin America shows that the continent's agricultural expansion has waned in the wake of the global economic downturn, according to research. The study involved the first large-scale mapping of changes in cropland and pastureland over more than a decade at the continental scale, using satellite imagery.

When it comes to testosterone, more isn't always better Posted: 13 May 2015 11:58 AM PDT Increased diabetes risk has been connected to higher levels of testosterone to prostate enlargement, a new study reports. A new study anthropologists suggests that the hormone testosterone -- specifically, an unnatural overabundance thereof -- may be a prime culprit. Building on previous research they conducted with the Tsimane, an isolated indigenous population in central Bolivia, researchers examined the prevalence of BPH among a group of approximately 350 adult males.

80 percent of Burmese long-tailed macaques use stone-tools to hammer food Posted: 13 May 2015 11:56 AM PDT Eighty percent of a population of Burmese long-tailed macaques on an island in southern Thailand use stone and shell tools to crack open seafood, and do so using 17 different action patterns.

Trap-jaw ants jump with their jaws to escape the antlion's den Posted: 13 May 2015 11:56 AM PDT Some species of trap-jaw ants use their spring-loaded mandibles to hurl themselves out of harm's way when an ant-trapping predator stalks, researchers report in the journal PLOS ONE. This dramatic maneuver doubles the ants' survival when other escape methods fail, the researchers found. (See video.)

How noise affects the palate: When flying, taste buds prefer savory tomato Posted: 13 May 2015 11:55 AM PDT While examining how airplane noise affects the palate, food scientists found umami-rich foods become your taste bud's best buds.

Two Large Hadron Collider experiments first to observe rare subatomic process Posted: 13 May 2015 11:55 AM PDT Two experiments at the Large Hadron Collider at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva, Switzerland, have combined their results and observed a previously unseen subatomic process.

Ancient skeleton shows leprosy may have spread to Britain from Scandinavia Posted: 13 May 2015 11:55 AM PDT Archaeologists have found evidence suggesting leprosy may have spread to Britain from Scandinavia. The team examined a 1500 year old male skeleton, excavated at Great Chesterford in Essex, England during the 1950s.

Infant antibiotic use linked to adult diseases Posted: 13 May 2015 11:09 AM PDT A new study has found a three-way link among antibiotic use in infants, changes in the gut bacteria, and disease later in life.

Children often have a closer relationship with their pet than their siblings Posted: 13 May 2015 10:50 AM PDT New research shows children often have a closer relationship with their pet than their siblings.

New fermion microscope able to see up to 1,000 individual fermionic atoms Posted: 13 May 2015 10:26 AM PDT Physicists have built a microscope that is able to see up to 1,000 individual fermionic atoms. The researchers devised a laser-based technique to trap and freeze fermions in place, and image the particles simultaneously.

How rivers regulate global carbon cycle Posted: 13 May 2015 10:26 AM PDT River transport of carbon to the ocean is not on a scale that will solve our carbon dioxide problem, but we haven't known how much carbon the world's rivers routinely flush into the ocean, until now. Scientists calculated the first direct estimate of how much and in what form organic carbon is exported by rivers. The estimate will help modelers predict how this export may shift as Earth's climate changes.

Brain compass keeps flies on course, even in the dark Posted: 13 May 2015 10:26 AM PDT Fruit flies have an internal compass that works when the lights go out, scientists have discovered. Their findings suggest that dissecting how fruit flies navigate through the world could help researchers understand how humans and other mammals perform those tasks.

Cause of galactic death: Strangulation Posted: 13 May 2015 10:26 AM PDT Astronomers have partially solved an epic whodunit: what kills galaxies so that they can no longer produce new stars?

Persistence yields progress in AIDS vaccine research Posted: 13 May 2015 10:25 AM PDT After 30 years of working on AIDS research, an American lab has developed new vaccine candidates that appear promising enough to consider advancing into clinical trials within the next two years.

New nanomaterials inspired by bird feathers play with light to create color Posted: 13 May 2015 09:51 AM PDT Inspired by the way iridescent bird feathers play with light, scientists have created thin films of material in a wide range of pure colors -- from red to green -- with hues determined by physical structure rather than pigments. Chemists synthesized and assembled nanoparticles of a synthetic version of melanin to mimic the natural structures found in bird feathers.

Memory and the hippocampus: New work challenges old beliefs Posted: 13 May 2015 09:51 AM PDT The size of the hippocampus, an important structure in the brain's memory circuit, is typically measured as one method to determine the integrity of the memory circuit. However, the shape of this structure is often neglected. New research challenges the long-held belief that a larger hippocampus is directly linked to improved memory function.

Highly competitive geographic areas have a higher annual number of liver transplants Posted: 13 May 2015 09:51 AM PDT The annual number of liver transplantation operations increases when transplantation centers are concentrated in geographic areas that are highly competitive, according to findings from a new study. The study is believed to be the first one to demonstrate a link between the volume of liver transplantation and competition for organs and geographic density.

No difference in post-op complications for pregnant women undergoing general surgery Posted: 13 May 2015 09:51 AM PDT Pregnant women who undergo general surgical procedures appear to have no significant difference in postoperative complications compared with women who are not pregnant, according to a report. Historical data show that about 1 in 500 pregnant women require nonobstetric surgery.

The infant gut microbiome: New studies on its origins and how it's knocked out of balance Posted: 13 May 2015 09:51 AM PDT A fecal sample analysis of 98 Swedish infants over the first year of life found a connection between the development of a child's gut microbiome and the way he or she is delivered. Babies born via C-section had gut bacteria that showed significantly less resemblance to their mothers compared to those that were delivered vaginally.

Historical land use an important factor for carbon cycling in northern lakes Posted: 13 May 2015 09:50 AM PDT The historical past is important when we seek to understand environmental conditions as they are today and predict how these might change in the future, according to researchers whose analyses of lake-sediment records show how lake-water carbon concentrations have varied depending on long-term natural dynamics over thousands of years, but also in response to human impacts over the past several hundred years.

Scientists identify interferon beta as likely culprit in persistent viral infections Posted: 13 May 2015 09:49 AM PDT Interferon proteins are normally considered virus-fighters, but scientists have found evidence that one of them, interferon beta, has an immune-suppressing effect that can help some viruses establish persistent infections.

Potential obesity treatment targets the two sides of appetite: Hunger and feeling full Posted: 13 May 2015 08:20 AM PDT Our bodies' hormones work together to tell us when to eat and when to stop. But for many people who are obese, this system is off-balance. Now scientists have designed a hormone-like compound to suppress hunger and boost satiety, or a full feeling, at the same time. Obese mice given the compound for 14 days had a tendency to eat less than the other groups.

How used coffee grounds could make some food more healthful Posted: 13 May 2015 08:20 AM PDT Coffee has gone from dietary foe to friend in recent years, partly due to the revelation that it's rich in antioxidants. Now even spent coffee grounds are gaining attention for being chock-full of these compounds, which have potential health benefits. Researchers now explain how to extract antioxidants from the grounds. They then determined just how concentrated the antioxidants are.

Depression intensifies anger in veterans with PTSD Posted: 13 May 2015 08:18 AM PDT The tendency for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder to lash out in anger can be significantly amplified if they are also depressed, according to new research.

'Supercool' material glows when you write on it Posted: 13 May 2015 07:29 AM PDT A new material stays liquid more than 200 degrees F below its expected freezing point, but a light touch can cause it to form yellow crystals that glow under ultraviolet light.

Playing games can shift attitudes, study shows Posted: 13 May 2015 07:29 AM PDT A research laboratory is working to quantify the effects of playing games. In a study, researchers found that attitudes toward public health issues shift to be more accepting and understanding after playing a game they developed called RePlay Health.

Novel biomarkers may provide guide to personalized hepatitis C therapy Posted: 13 May 2015 07:29 AM PDT A simple blood test can be used to predict which chronic hepatitis C patients will respond to interferon-based therapy, according to a report. Hepatitis C chronically infects about 160 million people worldwide, and is a major cause of illness and death from hepatocellular carcinoma and end-stage liver disease.

'Extreme' exposure to secondhand cannabis smoke causes mild intoxication Posted: 13 May 2015 07:29 AM PDT Secondhand exposure to cannabis smoke under 'extreme conditions,' such as an unventilated room or enclosed vehicle, can cause nonsmokers to feel the effects of the drug, have minor problems with memory and coordination, and in some cases test positive for the drug in a urinalysis, a new study concludes.

Learning entrepreneurship: Starting a business is a matter of adequate training Posted: 13 May 2015 07:29 AM PDT The capacity to think and act in entrepreneurial terms is present in many people -- unbeknown to most of them. Action-oriented entrepreneurship training sessions can unlock dormant potential and awaken entrepreneurial spirit, according to new findings.

Physicists observe attosecond real-time restructuring of electron cloud in molecule Posted: 13 May 2015 07:27 AM PDT The recombination of electron shells in molecules, taking just a few dozen attoseconds (a billionth of a billionth of a second) can now be viewed 'live,' thanks to a new method.

Spores for thought: Study provides new insights into Clostridium spores Posted: 13 May 2015 07:27 AM PDT Researchers have established how clostridia bacteria emerge from spores. This could help them understand how these bacteria germinate and go on to produce the deadly toxin responsible for botulism, a lethal form of food poisoning, or cause food spoilage.

Measures of students' 'non-cognitive' skills for teacher evaluation, school accountability, or student diagnosis Posted: 13 May 2015 07:26 AM PDT Policymakers and practitioners have grown increasingly interested in measures of personal qualities other than cognitive ability--including self-control, grit, growth mindset, gratitude, purpose, emotional intelligence, and other beneficial personal qualities--that lead to student success. However, they need to move cautiously before using existing measures to evaluate educators, programs, and policies, or diagnosing children as having "non-cognitive" deficits, according to a new review.

Androgen deprivation therapy may lead to cognitive impairment in prostate cancer patients Posted: 13 May 2015 07:26 AM PDT Cognitive impairment can occur in cancer patients who are treated with a variety of therapies, including radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy. After chemotherapy treatment it is commonly called "chemo brain." Signs of cognitive impairment include forgetfulness, inability to concentrate, problems recalling information, trouble multi-tasking and becoming slower at processing information. The number of people who experience cognitive problems following cancer therapy is broad, with an estimate range of 15 to 70 percent.

Fracking may affect air quality, human health Posted: 13 May 2015 06:36 AM PDT People living or working near active natural gas wells may be exposed to certain pollutants at higher levels than the Environmental Protection Agency considers safe for lifetime exposure. Air pollution from fracking operations may pose an under-recognized health hazard to people living near them, the researchers concluded.

Drug perks up old muscles and aging brains Posted: 13 May 2015 06:36 AM PDT We age, in part, because the adult stem cells in our tissues are surrounded by chemicals that prevent them from replacing damaged cells. One of these chemicals is TGF-beta1, known to depress stem cell activity. A new study shows that a drug that blocks TGF-beta1, which is now being tested for its anticancer properties, makes brain and muscle tissue more youthful. This is a step toward a drug cocktail that could rejuvenate aging tissue.

U.S. beekeepers lost 40 percent of bees in 2014-15 Posted: 13 May 2015 06:36 AM PDT Beekeepers across the United States lost more than 40 percent of their honey bee colonies during the year spanning April 2014 to April 2015, according to the latest results of an annual nationwide survey.

What's the forecast? Cutting off the supply of psychoactive substances Posted: 13 May 2015 06:35 AM PDT The use of novel psychoactive substances -- synthetic compounds with stimulant or hallucinogenic effects -- is on the rise. The diversity and breadth of these substances has led policymakers, law enforcement officers, and healthcare providers alike to feel overwhelmed and underprepared for dealing with novel drugs. A recent article proposes a "forecasting method" for policymakers and researchers to focus on what is likely to happen with new recreational drugs.

Average-sized models could sell more fashion, research suggests Posted: 13 May 2015 06:35 AM PDT The fashion industry could benefit from using average-sized models rather than size zero in marketing campaigns, new research suggests. The study considered the impact of using average and zero-sized models in marketing campaigns for both established and fictitious new fashion brands.

Childhood obesity influenced by how kids are fed, not just what they eat Posted: 13 May 2015 06:33 AM PDT As the childhood obesity epidemic increases, researchers are discovering that the way caregivers feed their kids may be just as important as what they give them to eat. A new study reviews how a mother's body mass index (BMI), ethnicity and personal eating habits may influence how she feeds her child.

Brains of smokers who quit successfully might be wired for success Posted: 13 May 2015 06:33 AM PDT Smokers who are able to quit might actually be hard-wired for success. The study showed greater connectivity among certain brain regions in people who successfully quit smoking compared to those who tried and failed.

Men: Wearing red can make you appear angry, dominant Posted: 13 May 2015 05:38 AM PDT Men who wear red clothes send out a signal that they are angry and aggressive, in much the same way as if their face had reddened, new research suggests. This study is believed to be the first into the effects of color on social perceptions of dominance and aggression in neutral settings.

Bacteria shown to suppress their antibiotic-resistant cousins Posted: 13 May 2015 05:38 AM PDT Researchers studying a dangerous type of bacteria have discovered that the bacteria have the ability to block both their own growth and the growth of their antibiotic-resistant mutants. The discovery might lead to better ways to fight a class of bacteria that have contributed to a growing public health crisis by becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotic treatments.

Can diet and exercise prevent muscle loss in old age? Maybe not Posted: 13 May 2015 05:38 AM PDT Between the ages of 40 and 80, an estimated 30 to 50 per cent of muscle mass is lost, resulting in lower strength and less ability to carry out everyday tasks. This process -- known as sarcopenia -- is common and clearly linked to frailty and poorer health in older people. Although some studies find diet can enhance the effects of exercise to prevent muscle loss in later life, current evidence about what works is inconsistent, new research shows.

Antarctic ice shelf is thinning from above and below Posted: 13 May 2015 05:37 AM PDT A decade-long scientific debate about what's causing the thinning of one of Antarctica's largest ice shelves is settled this week with the publication of an international study in the journal The Cryosphere.

New insights into the male bias of autism Posted: 13 May 2015 05:37 AM PDT Male toddlers with autism have significant structural differences in their brains compared to females with the condition, according to research. The new work is looking at the links between sex/gender and autism, which reveal additional insights into the role of prenatal sex hormones and the 'female protective effect'.

Research finds differences in the brains and behavior of girls and boys with autism Posted: 13 May 2015 05:37 AM PDT Differences in the underlying biology of children's brains and behavior has been identified through a study on a large cohort of preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder. The findings may help explain how the condition affects a little-studied and poorly understood population of children: girls.

Study attributes varying explosivity to gaseous state within volcanic conduits Posted: 13 May 2015 05:37 AM PDT The varying scale and force of certain volcanic eruptions -- currently being witnessed at sites in Chile and Mexico -- are directly influenced by the levels of gaseous matter within magma inside a volcano's conduit, according to a new study.

Stainless staining provides a new tool for clinicians and researchers Posted: 13 May 2015 05:37 AM PDT A new technique promises to overturn the standard workflow in pathologic assessments of tissue by adding molecular information to standard optical imaging. The study relies on computation, instead of staining to provide images.

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