Ancient DNA can both diminish and defend modern minds

(Arizona State University) A new study shows cognitive decline may be influenced by the interaction of genetics and ... worms?

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hwqJAU

Many smokers with serious mental illness want to kick habit

(Washington University School of Medicine) Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that although many smokers with serious mental illnesses would like to quit smoking, many psychiatrists and caseworkers aren't aware of their patients' wishes and, consequently, haven't prescribed medications or referred them to services to help them stop smoking.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2iinNdt

Languages still a major barrier to global science, new research finds

(University of Cambridge) Over one-third of new conservation science documents published annually are in non-English languages, despite assumption of English as scientific 'lingua franca.' Researchers find examples of important science missed at international level, and practitioners struggling to access new knowledge, as a result of language barriers.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2imoc0K

Ancient Chaco Canyon population likely relied on imported food, finds CU study

(University of Colorado at Boulder) The ancient inhabitants of New Mexico's Chaco Canyon, the zenith of Pueblo culture in the Southwest a thousand years ago, likely had to import corn to feed the multitudes residing there, says a new University of Colorado Boulder study.

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Psychiatric conditions linked to increased risk of long-term opioid use

(Wolters Kluwer Health) A wide range of pre-existing psychiatric and behavioral conditions and the use of psychoactive drugs could be important risk factors leading to long-term use of opioid pain medications, reports a study in PAIN®, the official publication of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP). The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hwUk0v

Anti-aging therapies targeting senescent cells: Facts and fiction

(Cell Press) It's an exciting time to be an elderly mouse. Researchers believe that by removing senescent cells (cells with a persistent damage response), which naturally accumulate with age, senior rodents can regrow hair, run faster, and improve organ function. This strategy may bring us one step closer to the 'fountain of youth,' but it's important to be cautious and not hype, says researcher of aging Peter de Keizer in Trends in Molecule Medicine

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Inactivity in obese mice linked to a decreased motivation to move

(Cell Press) Starting a regular program at the gym is a common New Year's resolution, but it's one that most people are unable to stick with for very long. Now a study done in mice is providing clues about one of the reasons why it may be hard for so many people to stick with an exercise program. The investigators found that in obese mice, physical inactivity results from altered dopamine receptors rather than excess body weight.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2iIWU11

Genes and the environment equally affect language-related brain activity

(Osaka University) Osaka University-led researchers showed that brain activity in the left frontal area is equally affected by environmental and genetic factors. They also demonstrated that verbal memory is related to language-related brain activity. The findings provide novel insights into how language is influenced by genes and the environment.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2ibORwR

Most doctors ignore one of the most potent ways to improve health, Penn experts say

(University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine) Leveraging existing relationships with friends and family may be a more effective way to improve patients' health and encourage new healthy habits and behaviors than increasing interactions with physicians or other clinicians. In a new perspective published by the New England Journal of Medicine, Penn Medicine behavioral economists suggest a five-step ladder to effectively engineering social engagements that promote health and to test their acceptability and effectiveness.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hsyo3f

Coping with arthritis: What you do isn't associated with how much information you want

(Bentham Science Publishers) Arthritis patients were more likely to be high monitors (health detail oriented) than high blunters (health detail avoidant) in a study led by the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Study findings suggest that the attentional coping styles of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis tend not to be associated with self-management behaviors such as how often patients have medication related discussions with their doctors and medication adherence.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2ihnGyy

Millions of tons of food could be saved with better logistics

(Chalmers University of Technology) Each year, around 88 million tons of food is discarded in the EU. This is something that Kristina Liljestrand, researcher at Chalmers University of Technology, wants to do something about. She is now giving companies in the food supply chain specific tools that can reduce both food waste and the environmental impact of food transport.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2ikZwps

Predicting and preventing violence against criminal justice officials

(Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News) A "triage tool" that can help law enforcement more accurately assess threats of violence and predict attacks against police, judges, and other criminal justice officials can lead to better preventive measures. The violence risk factors and risk management strategies that form the basis for an effective approach to minimizing such targeted attacks are described in the article "Threat to Criminal Justice Officials: If It Is Predictable, It Is Preventable," published in Violence and Gender.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2iEFhiQ

Three centuries of excellence: The story of a world-famous chemistry department

(World Scientific) Chemistry is the most fundamental of the sciences, and is now one of the most popular choices for university entry. Many of the key discoveries in the field were made in the chemistry department at IC, and together with anecdotes of the famous men and women who studied or taught there we try to highlight their work, in a scientific and historical context.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2ihjUro

When it comes to reducing hospital readmissions, financial penalties work

(Yale University) Hospitals that were financially penalized for too many readmissions were more likely than non-penalized institutions to subsequently reduce readmissions for all conditions, according to a new study by Yale School of Medicine researchers and colleagues in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2iAP4ui

Investigational new drug for Alzheimer's scheduled for first study in humans

(Vanderbilt University Medical Center) Vanderbilt University scientists have received notification from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that testing in humans may proceed for an investigational new drug for Alzheimer's disease after more than 10 years of research by scientists at Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2htQDKB

Diabetes, heart disease, and back pain dominate US health care spending

(Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation) Just 20 conditions make up more than half of all spending on health care in the United States, according to a new comprehensive financial analysis that examines spending by diseases and injuries.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2i3uguu

Shift in some teens' use and perceptions of marijuana after recreational marijuana is legalized

(University of California - Davis Health System) Marijuana use significantly increased and its perceived harm decreased among eighth- and 10th-graders in Washington state following enactment of recreational marijuana laws, according to a UC Davis and Columbia University study. There was no change in use or perceived harm among 12th graders or among similar grades in Colorado.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2iAFnrW

'Friendship Bench' program proves effective at alleviating mental illness symptoms

(Grand Challenges Canada) Brief psychological treatment delivered by Zimbabwean lay health workers dramatically improved the symptoms of patients with mental health problems, according to new research published in JAMA.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2iAse1Z

Did teen perception, use of marijuana change after recreational use legalized?

(The JAMA Network Journals) Marijuana use increased and the drug's perceived harmfulness decreased among eighth- and 10th-graders in Washington after marijuana was legalized for recreational use by adults but there was no change among 12th-graders or among students in the three grades in Colorado after legalization for adults there, according to a new study published online by JAMA Pediatrics.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2i3DKpC

Bat calls contain wealth of discernible information

(American Friends of Tel Aviv University) A new Tel Aviv University study extracts critical information from bat vocalizations to offer a rare, informative look into the world of bat communication.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2iAjZ6e

This is your brain on alcohol (video)

(American Chemical Society) It's almost time to ring in 2017. And since most New Year's celebrations include alcohol, Reactions' latest episode explains the chemistry behind its effects -- drunkenness, frequent bathroom breaks and occasionally poor decision-making. Find out how it all comes down to ethanol (which, like all things, should be enjoyed in moderation) here: https://youtu.be/1xVqwYxe4Gw.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2htvEYr

Out of gas and low on sperm?

(Kyoto University) Sperm are constantly replenished in the adult male body. Understanding the workings of stem cells responsible for this replenishment is expected to shed light on why male fertility diminishes with age, and possibly lead to new treatments for infertility.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hpJWYq

Military health system will test U-M-developed concept under newly signed defense bill

(University of Michigan Health System) A health care reform idea originated by University of Michigan faculty will get a major test among members of the nation's military and their families, thanks to a provision in the national defense spending bill signed by President Obama on Friday.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2iaBafx

Dr. Chiaravalloti of Kessler Foundation receives $600,000 grant to study cognition and SCI

(Kessler Foundation) Nancy Chiaravalloti, PhD, of Kessler Foundation is the principal investigator of a Field-Initiated Program award from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). The nearly $600,000 grant will fund her three-year project, entitled'Treating Cognitive Deficits in Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (SCI): A Randomized Clinical Trial' which seeks to improve the everyday functioning and quality of life for people with SCI.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hpI4Pp

Animal biology, human health dominate 2016 EurekAlert! trending news list

(EurekAlert!) News releases about the fight against Zika, a happy sex life, and dogs were among 2016's most popular on EurekAlert!, a science news service operated by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). For the first time, an infographic made its way to the top five most-shared list.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hoAV1J

Researchers map how the brain processes faces from sight to recognition

(Carnegie Mellon University) Researchers used highly sophisticated brain imaging tools and computational methods to measure the real-time brain processes that convert the appearance of a face into the recognition of an individual. They are hopeful that the findings might be used in the near future to locate the exact point at which the visual perception system breaks down in different disorders and injuries, ranging from developmental dyslexia to prosopagnosia, or face blindness.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2ibaOfL

Is there such a thing as an emotional hangover? NYU researchers find that there is

(New York University) Emotional experiences can induce physiological and internal brain states that persist for long periods of time after the emotional events have ended, a team of New York University scientists has found.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hnjPkF

The incorrigibles

(University of Southern California) When people's political beliefs are challenged, their brains become active in areas that govern personal identity and emotional responses to threats, neuroscientists at the University of Southern California found.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hQ2QrM

Why chess masters win

(Bielefeld University) What is the secret of successful chess players? Cognitive scientists at the Cluster of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC) at Bielefeld University investigate this question in the project 'Ceege' by recording players' eye movements and facial expressions. They cooperate with colleagues from Inria Grenoble Rhones-Aples, a research institute in France.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2ikn3XX

Christmas holidays linked to rise in heart attacks in northern and southern hemispheres

(University of Melbourne) University of Melbourne researchers have found an increase in heart attacks around the festive period may be due to more difficult access to hospitals, combined with stress, an excess of alcohol and a fatty diet.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2ikirky

Losing sleep over discrimination? 'Everyday discrimination' may contribute to sleep problemss

(Wolters Kluwer Health) People who perceive more discrimination in daily life have higher rates of sleep problems, based on both subjective and objective measures, reports a study in Psychosomatic Medicine: Journal of Biobehavioral Medicine, the official journal of the American Psychosomatic Society. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer.

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Deadly sleeping sickness set to be eliminated in 6 years

(University of Warwick) Gambian sleeping sickness -- a deadly parasitic disease spread by tsetse flies -- could be eliminated in six years in key regions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to new research by the University of Warwick.

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LifePoint health furthers commitment to chest pain care

(American College of Cardiology) Thirty-five LifePoint Health® facilities earned Chest Pain Center Accreditation in 2016, bringing the total number of accredited facilities to 63, as part of a system-wide collaboration between LifePoint Health® (NASDAQ: LPNT) and the American College of Cardiology.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hhd5GD

Training to become a scuba diver? Start at the dentist

(University at Buffalo) A new University at Buffalo pilot study found that 41 percent of scuba divers experienced dental symptoms in the water. Recreational divers should consider consulting with their dentist before diving if they recently received dental care.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hvH75A

Promising discovery for a non-invasive early detection of Alzheimer's disease

(IOS Press) A discovery of high relevance in medical research will be published in Volume 55, number 4 of December 2016 of the prestigious 'Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (JAD),' entitled 'Tau Platelets Correlate with Regional Brain Atrophy in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease.'

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Hidden hearing loss revealed by UConn School of Medicine researchers

(University of Connecticut) Two researchers at UConn School of Medicine have developed a new hearing test that can identify hearing loss or deficits in some individuals considered to have normal or near-normal hearing in traditional tests.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hgXjLV

Controlling the body clock

(RIKEN) A new study from the laboratory of Hiroki Ueda at the RIKEN Quantitative Biology Center investigates circadian timekeeping with a novel approach to creating genetic knock-out rescue mice. Published in Molecular Cell, the study shows how this technique was used to quickly create numerous mouse lines, each with different mutations in a circadian regulator called CRY1. Studying each mutation and the effects on behavior showed that specific changes to the protein affected the duration of the circadian period.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hgVles

No teeth? No problem -- dinosaur species had teeth as babies, lost them as they grew

(George Washington University) Researchers have discovered that a species of dinosaur, Limusaurus inextricabilis, lost its teeth in adolescence and did not grow another set as adults. The finding, published today in Current Biology, is a radical change in anatomy during a lifespan and may help to explain why birds have beaks but no teeth.

from EurekAlert! - Archaeology http://ift.tt/2i5OD7T

PharmaMar and Chugai enter into a license and commercialization agreement for PM1183

(Pharmamar) PharmaMar (MSE:PHM) has announced today the signing of an exclusive license, development and commercialization agreement with Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (TSE:4519) for its third marine-derived anticancer drug PM1183 (lurbinectedin) in Japan.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2ifuLCG

Study IDs key indicators linking violence and mental illness

(North Carolina State University) New research finds a host of factors that are associated with subsequent risk of adults with mental illness becoming victims or perpetrators of violence. The work highlights the importance of interventions to treat mental-health problems in order to reduce community violence.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hdsTbH

Evolution of ideas: Scientists to decode genetic story of Newton's apple

(University of Lincoln) Scientists will connect two of the most important scientific theories of all time -- the law of universal gravitation and the theory of evolution -- by unraveling the genetic code of the apple which inspired Isaac Newton's greatest discovery 350 years ago this year.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hgoab9

Helping pays off: People who care for others live longer

(University of Basel) Older people who help and support others live longer. These are the findings of a study published in the journal 'Evolution and Human Behavior,' conducted by researchers from the University of Basel, Edith Cowan University, the University of Western Australia, the Humboldt University of Berlin, and the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2h5HlPU

Fractional disturbance observers could help machines stay on track

(Chinese Association of Automation) Using fractional calculus, the team of researchers created a suite of observers that could accurately estimate disturbances of varying complexity. When tested on a model of a gas turbine, two observers clearly outperformed the rest. And when combined, the pair operated well under the harshest conditions, keeping close track of highly fluctuating disturbance signals.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hdlFoe

Occupational therapy may have the potential to slow down functional decline and reduce behavioral troubles

(IOS Press) A French observational study in real life showed that dementia patients benefiting from occupational therapy sessions report relevant clinical benefits over the intervention period, according to a research study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease this month. The research suggested the influence of occupational therapy on reducing behavioral troubles, caregivers' burden and amount of informal care over the intervention period and a stabilization over the 3-months period thereafter.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2ijcAYH

Artificial intelligence to generate new cancer drugs on demand

(InSilico Medicine, Inc.) Clinical trial failure rates for small molecules in oncology exceed 94% for molecules previously tested in animals and the costs to bring a new drug to market exceed $2.5 billion. Advances in deep learning demonstrated superhuman accuracy in many areas and are expected to transform industries. Here for the first time we demonstrate the application of Generative Adversarial Autoencoders (AAEs), a new type of Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN), for generation of molecular fingerprints of molecules that kill cancer cells at specific concentrations.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2iiFaJJ

Firefly gift-giving: Composition of ‘nuptial gifts’ revealed, shedding light on postmating sexual selection

(Tufts University) New research at Tufts University, in collaboration with MIT scientists, reveals the molecular composition of firefly 'nuptial gifts,' offering the first peek into the content of these special packages and shedding new light on post-mating sexual selection. The findings were published today in Scientific Reports.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2i4rGlL

Police-led addiction program in Gloucester shows first-year success, BU study finds

(Boston University Medical Center) About 95 percent of individuals with substance-use disorders who came to the Gloucester Police Department for help accessing addiction treatment were placed in detoxification or substance-use treatment programs during the first year of a widely publicized initiative aimed at combating the opioid epidemic, according to a report by Boston University researchers.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hWIb61

NEJM reports on study of waitlisted opioid-dependent adults

(University of Vermont College of Medicine) In rural states like Vermont, opioid-dependent adults desperate for treatment often find themselves stuck on a wait list, sometimes for eight months or more, increasing their risk of continuing to use illicit opioids, contract an infectious disease, overdose and prematurely die. Stacey Sigmon, Ph.D., an addiction research expert with the Vermont Center on Behavior and Health, has developed an "Interim Buprenorphine Treatment" regimen for waitlisted opioid-dependent adults. Results debut in New England Journal of Medicine.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2i2l6fA

Toeing the line: Study finds brain cells that signal path of travel

(University of California - San Diego) In a paper published by Nature Neuroscience, UC San Diego cognitive scientists say they have found neurons that help an animal align itself within a cognitive map of its environment. The neurons signal 'I'm on this line, in this orientation.'

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hWiO48

UT Extension's Shirley Hastings celebrated as legend

(University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture) Shirley Hastings, director of UT Extension Strategic Planning and former associate dean of Family and Consumer Sciences, has been honored as a Legend in Family and Consumer Sciences by the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS).

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hWDiK7

University of Rochester and West Health Collaborate on d.health Summit 2017

(University of Rochester Medical Center) In collaboration with West Health, the University of Rochester is hosting the third annual d.health Summit, a forum for health care and technology leaders, entrepreneurs, senior care advocates and policymakers to exchange ideas, create new partnerships, and foster disruptive technological and process innovations to improve the lives of the nation's aging population.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2h2ztPc

New appropriate use criteria for coronary revascularization released

(American College of Cardiology) The American College of Cardiology, along with several partnering organizations, today released updated appropriate use criteria for performing coronary revascularization in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2ibsCrN

School attendance improves when girls are given free sanitary pads and puberty lessons

(University of Oxford) A new paper shows there is now good evidence from a large-scale study to show puberty lessons and free sanitary products improve school attendance of girls and women.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2h2Oro5

Study: Children can 'catch' social bias through non-verbal signals expressed by adults

(University of Washington) Research from the University of Washington shows that preschool-age children can learn bias through nonverbal signals displayed by adults and are likely to generalize that learned bias to other people. The findings point to a mechanism for the creation of racial bias and other biases in society.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hVJvWQ

New disease could signal hope for sufferers of brain ageing conditions

(University of Sussex) Genetic disease discovered by experts at the University of Sussex could prove significant for researchers looking into more common brain ageing conditions.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2i1z2Gx

Study finds 'striking' use of double mastectomy

(University of Michigan Health System) Nearly half of early stage breast cancer patients considered having double mastectomy and one in six received it -- including many who were at low risk of developing a second breast cancer, a new study finds.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2iaYxs8

Distinctive brain pattern may underlie dyslexia

(Massachusetts Institute of Technology) A distinctive neural signature found in the brains of people with dyslexia may explain why these individuals have difficulty learning to read, according to a new study from MIT neuroscientists.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2i1pafZ

Dyslexics show a difference in sensory processing

(Cell Press) Neuroscientists have discovered that a basic mechanism underlying sensory perception is deficient in individuals with dyslexia, according to study published Dec. 21 in Neuron. The brain typically adapts rapidly to sensory input, such as the sound of a person's voice or images of faces and objects, as a way to make processing more efficient. But for individuals with dyslexia, the researchers found that adaptation was on average about half that of those without the disorder.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hVE3Dp

The challenge of defining maturity when the brain never stops changing

(Cell Press) Neuroscientists don't know when your brain is a legal adult. While the law has to draw a line between adolescence and maturity, ranging globally from 10 to the early 20s, different parts of the brain mature at different rates, rather than growing up entirely overnight. In an Opinion published in Neuron, Harvard psychologist Leah Somerville argues that using current neuroscience tools to define when a brain 'reaches maturity' is much trickier than it may seem.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2i1mRtq

Indiana University researchers launch tool to understand spread of fake news

(Indiana University) The Observatory on Social Media at Indiana University has launched a powerful new tool in the fight against fake news. The tool, called Hoaxy, visualizes how claims in the news -- and fact checks of those claims -- spread online through social networks.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2i172D2

Driverless platoons

(Massachusetts Institute of Technology) MIT engineers have studied a simple vehicle-platooning scenario and determined the best ways to deploy vehicles in order to save fuel and minimize delays. Their analysis, presented this week at the International Workshop on the Algorithmic Foundations of Robotics, shows that relatively simple, straightforward schedules may be the optimal approach for saving fuel and minimizing delays for autonomous vehicle fleets. The findings may also apply to conventional long-distance trucking and even ride-sharing services.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2ifJ324

Study examines melanoma incidence, death

(The JAMA Network Journals) A new research letter published online by JAMA Dermatology updates information on trends in melanoma incidence and death in the United States since 2009.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2ha9XKU

Fish sperm race for reproductive success

(Frontiers) Many organisms compete for access to and acceptance by mates. In a recent study, researchers show that the sperm of Arctic char, a cold-water fish common to alpine lakes, swim at different speeds in different fluids, depending on whether the fish are dominant or submissive. The different strategies between the dominant and the submissive males illustrate reproductive advantages, depending on their typical distance from the female.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2ifiY39

Speeding up comprehension with grasping actions

(Bielefeld University) Hearing or seeing a word doesn't mean that it is immediately understood. The brain must first recognize the letters as such, put them together, and 'look up' what the word means in its mental lexicon. In an experiment, cognitive psychologists at Bielefeld University's Cluster of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC) have shown how word comprehension can be sped up -- namely by having study participants grasp objects while reading at the same time.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2ha1CXL

Fewer children per man than per woman

(Max-Planck-Gesellschaft) Men on average have fewer children than women and have them later in life. Differences are especially strong in eastern Germany, where men set a new world record for low fertility.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2ifx58F

Buddhism along the Silk Roads

(Ruhr-University Bochum) Prof. Dr. Carmen Meinert from Ruhr-Universität Bochum has been awarded a two-million euros Consolidator Grant by the European Research Council (ERC). The researcher at the Center for Religious Studies will spend the next five years investigating how Buddhist localizations were shaped in premodern Central Asian cultures on a regional level.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hcHS7p

Analysis examines characteristics of users of online infidelity matchmaking

(Wiley) By analyzing data originally stolen and released by Internet hackers, investigators have examined the characteristics of individuals who paid to engage in extramarital affairs using the online infidelity matchmaking site Ashley Madison.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hTipNB

Routine drug screening should be part of primary care settings, UCLA study recommends

(University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences) Drug misuse is so prevalent in Tijuana and East Los Angeles that community clinics in those areas should routinely screen for it. The researchers designed a simple tool that allowed participants to anonymously self-report substance abuse on a computer tablet with a touch screen in a discreet, non-threatening manner.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2h9Vcry

For older adults, poor vision can lead to physical decline and cognitive problems

(American Geriatrics Society) When older adult's vision declines sharply, their participation in physical and mental activities also declines. A team of researchers has suggested that, since most vision loss is preventable, strategies to postpone vision loss might also help delay physical and mental decline among older adults.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2if8PDL

RNA pathway plays key role in health, lifespan, fly study shows

(Brown University) The piRNA pathway was thought to be most active in the reproductive organs of animals, but researchers have discovered in the common fruit fly that the pathway also operates in a non-reproductive body tissue, playing a vital role in maintaining health and lifespan.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hZNChN

Pittsburgh teen girls take barely half the steps recommended for health

(University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences) Teenage girls in Pittsburgh lag far behind the expected levels of physical activity for US adolescent females, according to a new analysis based on a representative sample of that population. The findings suggest that teenage girls living in urban settings may need additional, targeted opportunities for physical activity to achieve the levels reached by their suburban and rural counterparts.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hTs0WX

Traffic fatalities decline in states with medical marijuana laws

(Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health) States that enacted medical marijuana laws, on average, experienced reductions in traffic fatalities, according to a study by researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. Overall, states that passed medical marijuana laws saw an 11 percent reduction in traffic fatalities, on average, after enacting the laws, and had 26 percent lower rates of traffic fatalities compared with states without the laws.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hXeWNw

Black males nearly 3 times as likely to die when police use force, study finds

(Drexel University) A Drexel public health researcher used a population health view to describe disparities in the death of males in the United States due to legal intervention. He found that black males are almost three times as likely to die as their white peers.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gZqvlS

Computer models find ancient solutions to modern problems

(Washington State University) Washington State University archaeologists are at the helm of new research using sophisticated computer technology to learn how past societies responded to climate change. Their work, which links ancient climate and archaeological data, could help modern communities identify new crops and other adaptive strategies when threatened by drought, extreme weather and other environmental challenges.

from EurekAlert! - Archaeology http://ift.tt/2hRXexF

C-P.A.W.W. to study health effects that walking shelter dogs has on veterans and dogs

(University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus) Veterans will walk shelter dogs in an intervention aimed at reducing stress levels and improving psychological outcomes. Researchers will collect various measures of physiological stress from veterans. They will examine stress levels in the shelter dogs themselves by collecting the heart rate variability of the dogs. It will examine the reciprocal nature of human-animal interaction and may help to uncover mechanistic underpinnings of the effects that interacting with canines have upon veterans with post-traumatic stress.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hX08yp

Got to remember them all, Pokémon

(University of California - Riverside) Weiwei Zhang, assistant professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, found that people could learn and remember more of a subject when they were already familiar with it. And the more familiar they were with the subject, the better they remembered new information related to it. In the case of new research by Zhang, we're talking Pokémon characters.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hRCuWQ

First US babies treated in study of adult stem cell therapy for congenital heart disease

(University of Maryland Medical Center) In a first-in-children randomized clinical study, medical researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) and the Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute (ISCI) at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine have begun testing to see whether adult stem cells derived from bone marrow benefit children with the congenital heart defect hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS).

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2h760XF

UMass Amherst nursing students learn brief effective substance abuse screening

(University of Massachusetts at Amherst) As they graduate this semester, 44 student nurses who learned SBIRT skills are pioneers in engaging the community. SBIRT training was added to the nursing curriculum at UMass Amherst after it received an $870,000 grant from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, one of only 12 such grants in the US.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2icmOtZ

Learning by listening: Penn physicians say online reviews can improve health care

(University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine) Online platforms that allow users to read and write reviews of businesses and services afford health care providers an opportunity to learn by listening, Penn Medicine physicians say in a new Viewpoint published today in JAMA. The authors point to a growing body of literature supporting the value of unstructured reviews in supplementing ratings from formal sources such as the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Heathcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS).

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hQxJul

Commonly used drugs lead to more doctor's office, hospital and emergency department visits

(Indiana University) Anticholinergic medications, a class of drugs commonly used by older adults, are linked to an increased rate of ED and hospital utilization in the US, according to an Indiana University Center for Aging Research, IU Center for Health Innovation and Implementation Science, and Regenstrief Institute study of community-dwelling Americans age 65 and older.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hQprTd

Examining toddler temperament around the globe

(Washington State University) US babies tend to be more social and impulsive and more likely to enjoy highly stimulating activities than infants from Chile, South Korea, and Poland, according to a new study by Maria Gartstein, professor of psychology at Washington State University.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hQtQ8w

National Endowment for the Humanities supports work at UH

(University of Houston) The latest round of funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities includes grants for two University of Houston faculty members, funding an ambitious collaboration with the Museum of Fine Arts-Houston to expand access to the museum's digital archive of Latin American art, along with support for a book exploring literature from French-speaking countries during the independence era of the mid-20th century.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hEv1Kn

Feeling blue? Taking a break from Facebook might help

(Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News) A new study shows that regular use of social networking such as Facebook can negatively affect your emotional well-being and satisfaction with life. But you don't have to quit Facebook altogether; simply changing your social networking behavior and taking an occasional break from Facebook may lift your spirits, according to the study published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hQiO36

Scripps Florida scientist awarded $5 million Outstanding Investigator Grant

(Scripps Research Institute) Ron Davis, chair of the Department of Neuroscience on the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) has been awarded a $5 million Outstanding Investigator Grant, one of the first of its kind, by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hEy31e

Black language matters: A linguistic analysis

(Linguistic Society of America) A new scientific study reveals the critical role that dialect unfamiliarity and prejudice against speakers of African American Vernacular English [AAVE] and other non-standard dialects can play in the criminal justice system. The study, 'Language and Linguistics on Trial: Hearing Vernacular Speakers in the Courtroom and Beyond,' by John R. Rickford and Sharese King of Stanford University, was published in the December, 2016 issue of the scholarly journal Language.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2h6Ja2m

As children with autism age, services to help with transition needed

(University of Missouri-Columbia) As children with autism age, experiences such as leaving school, finding jobs and living alone can be stressful for adolescents with autism as well as their caregivers. Researchers from the University of Missouri have conducted the first study analyzing the perspectives of adolescents with autism to identify challenges as they 'age out' of services. The researchers say these findings highlight the need for social workers and providers to assist children with autism as they transition to adulthood.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2h6HRAd

Trends in extracorporeal life support -- ASAIO Journal presents latest worldwide registry data

(Wolters Kluwer Health) For critically ill patients with heart or lung failure that does not respond to conventional treatments, extracorporeal life support (ECLS) can provide a bridge to survival. Updated analysis of a worldwide database finds that ECLS technologies are becoming more widely available and more frequently used at centers around the world, according to a report in the ASAIO Journal, published by Wolters Kluwer.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2ibFMky

Aging and cancer: An enzyme protects chromosomes from oxidative damage

(Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) EPFL scientists have identified a protein that caps chromosomes during cell division and protect them from oxidative damage and shortening, which are associated with aging and cancer.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2ibQBmD

Medication may provide greater virus suppression, reduction in lesions for patients with genital herpes

(The JAMA Network Journals) In a study appearing in the Dec. 20 issue of JAMA, Anna Wald, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of Washington & Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, and colleagues compared the medications pritelivir and valacyclovir for reducing genital herpes simplex virus shedding and lesions in persons with recurrent genital herpes.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hPXPNY

Pop-outs: How the brain extracts meaning from noise

(University of California - Berkeley) The brain ignores much of the sensory world surrounding us to focus on what's important, but this often means we have difficulty understanding what we see or hear. Take unintelligible speech. A well-known effect is that if a clean version of a garbled sentence is played, and then the garbled sentence replayed, the brain suddenly hears words amid the noise. UC Berkeley researchers have now measured the brain's retuning, which takes less than a second.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hEcHBf

Association between birth of an infant with major congenital anomalies and subsequent risk of death

(The JAMA Network Journals) In Denmark, having a child with a major congenital anomaly was associated with a small but statistically significant increased risk of death in the mother compared with women without an affected child, according to a study appearing in the Dec. 20 issue of JAMA. A major congenital anomaly is a structural change (such as cleft palate) that has significant medical, social or cosmetic consequences for the affected individual; this type of anomaly typically requires medical intervention.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hnuk57

A social network for fish

(University of Lincoln) Researchers have won a major new grant award for a study that will help to improve the welfare of live fish used in scientific tests.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2i5YT3r

Study finds some councils in London let down homeless veterans

(University of Kent) A new study finds some local authorities in London are letting down homeless veterans. Legal experts from the University of Kent who assessed London's local authority provision for homeless former members of the armed services found only nine out of 33 make an explicit online acknowledgement of their duty towards veterans, and there are ways all 33 could improve.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gYl32g

Predicting future sports rankings from evolving performance

(Springer) Competitive sports and games are all about the performance of players and teams, which results in performance-based hierarchies. Because such performance is measurable and is the result of varied rules, sports and games are considered a suitable model to help understand unrelated social or economic systems characterized by similar rules-based complexity. These findings, published in EPJ Data Science, enhance our ability to forecast how stratification occurs in competitive activities.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hDRiIo

Research discredits theory that e-cigarettes make tobacco use socially acceptable

(Aspect Consulting) A study conducted by the Glasgow-based Centre for Substance Use Research (CSUR) has cast doubt on the link suggested by some between the increased visibility of e-cigarette use and the renormalization of smoking.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hPJph0

HIV prevention trials network launches HPTN 083

(FHI360) The HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) has launched a new study, HPTN 083, to evaluate whether injectable cabotegravir (CAB) can safely protect men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) who have sex with men from acquiring HIV as well as daily oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC). If found to be safe and effective for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, also known as PrEP, injectable CAB may be easier for some people to adhere to than daily oral TDF/FTC.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hDWFaz

Does 'publication bias' affect the 'canonization' of facts in science?

(University of Washington) In an article published Dec. 20 in the journal eLife, UW biology professor Carl Bergstrom and co-authors present a mathematical model that explores whether 'publication bias' -- the tendency of journals to publish mostly positive experimental results -- influences how scientists canonize facts.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hQob5a

Up to 8,400 heart attacks and strokes prevented through NHS Health Checks

(Queen Mary University of London) The NHS Health Check program in England may have prevented an estimated 4,600 to 8,400 heart attacks, strokes, or death from these causes in its first five years, according to an independent review of the program led by Queen Mary University of London.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hNlCyb

White matter structure in the brain predicts cognitive function at ages 1 and 2

(University of North Carolina Health Care) A new study led by University of North Carolina School of Medicine researchers concluded that patterns of white matter microstructure present at birth and that develop after birth predict the cognitive function of children at ages 1 and 2.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hBlTX5

Keck Medicine of USC Receives $2.5 Million for translational osteoarthritis research

(University of Southern California - Health Sciences) Denis Evseenko, MD, PhD, of Keck Medicine of USC receives a $2.5 million grant from CIRM to develop an off-the-shelf therapy for osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis affects tens of millions of Americans, with that number expected to grow exponentially due to obesity and longer lifespans.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hN1vA8

Radiologists positioned to detect elder abuse but additional training and research needed

(American Roentgen Ray Society) Radiologists may be uniquely positioned to identify elder abuse, but they don't have training or experience in detecting it, according to a study published in the December 2016 issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR).

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hBbBGb

Potential Alzheimer's medication shows promise in mouse model of neurodegenerative disease

(JCI Journals) This month in the JCI, work led by Andrew Tobin at the University of Leicester tested two drugs that specifically target the M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease and discovered that the treatments had promising effects on symptoms of cognitive decline.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hBlZ0T

RIT researchers estimate 10,000 metric tons of plastic enter Great Lakes every year

(Rochester Institute of Technology) A new study by Rochester Institute of Technology that inventories and tracks high concentrations of plastic in the Great Lakes could help inform cleanup efforts and target pollution prevention. Researchers found that nearly 10,000 metric tons -- or 22 million pounds -- of plastic debris enter the Great Lakes every year from the United States and Canada.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2h4QInI

Children with higher genetic risk for obesity respond more strongly to fast food ads

(Dartmouth College) Dartmouth researchers have found that children with a genetic risk for obesity had greater activity in brain reward centers when watching fast food commercials, which could help us to understand why some children are more likely to overeat. The study is the first-of-its kind to examine how a key obesity gene influences brain response to food advertisements and other cues to eat. The findings are published in the 'Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.'

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2h3rWCX

Freezing in record lows? You may doubt global warming says USU scientist

(Utah State University) Researchers from Utah State University, Boston University, The George Washington University and the University of Oxford report findings from analysis of experiential basis for skepticism about climate change in the United States.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2i88wKW

On the road to autonomy, remember the operator

(Human Factors and Ergonomics Society) A model of human-autonomy interaction provides implementable guidelines for designing system autonomy to improve human situation awareness and overcome problems with boredom, complacency, overreliance, and trust.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hB4gGG

New research shows uptick in past-month marijuana use among women of reproductive age

(Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health) A new study by researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that the prevalence of past-month marijuana use among reproductive-aged women rose from 2.4 percent in 2002 to 3.9 percent in 2014, an increase of 62 percent. Past-month marijuana use was highest among those ages 18 to 25 years, reaching 7.5 percent in 2014, and significantly higher among those ages 26 to 44 years (2 percent).

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hMIq0U

MU researchers caution parents to prevent electrical cord burns to the mouth

(University of Missouri-Columbia) With millions of Americans decorating their homes for the holidays, tangles of extension cords and electrical wires are a common sight. Researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine have estimated more than 1,000 injuries in children caused by oral electrical burns were reported in emergency rooms from 1997 to 2012. The researchers caution parents and caregivers of young children to be mindful of the dangers of electrical burns to the mouth.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hAYCEE

Culture not a factor in management styles globally

(University of Missouri-Columbia) Geert Hofstede's 'Culture's Consequences' is one of the most influential management books of the 20th century. With well over 80,000 citations, Hofstede argues that 50 percent of managers' differences in their reactions to various situations are explained by cultural differences. Now, a researcher at the University of Missouri has determined that culture plays little or no part in leaders' management of their employees; this finding could impact how managers are trained and evaluated globally.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hMKne1

Ring-tailed lemurs: Going, going, gone?

(University of Colorado at Boulder) The ring-tailed lemur, a primate that is emblematic of the wild and wonderful creatures inhabiting the tropical island of Madagascar, is in big trouble -- there less than 2,500 left in wild, says new study involving the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Victoria.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hjJSqx

With eyes or noses? How young children use sensory cues to make social decisions

(Monell Chemical Senses Center) New research from the Monell Center reveals that children begin using olfactory information to help guide their responses to emotionally-expressive faces at about five years of age. The findings advance understanding of how children integrate different types of sensory information to direct their social behavior.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hATYXf

New report outlines 10 measures for the prevention of sudden cardiac death

(American College of Cardiology) A new report presents 10 quality and performance measures that are intended to help stakeholders--including health systems, legislative bodies, and nongovernmental organizations, as well as healthcare practitioners, patients, families and communities -- in the effort to prevent sudden cardiac death. The joint report from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association is published online today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hAYBR5

The case of the missing diamonds

(Washington University in St. Louis) A Washington University physicist practiced at finding tiny diamonds in stardust from the pre-solar universe has repeatedly failed to find them in Younger Dryas sedimentary layers, effectively discrediting the hypothesis that an exploding comet caused the sudden climate reversal at the end of the last Ice Age.

from EurekAlert! - Archaeology http://ift.tt/2h2Vd0w

Exploring future preventive strategies for patients at imminent risk of hip fracture

(International Osteoporosis Foundation) Expert panel review of current approaches for hip fracture prevention in patients at imminent risk of hip fractures looks at existing challenges & unmet needs. Panel concludes that due to serious repercussions and burden of hip fractures, further research is needed into untapped potential of new approaches.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2i7zRwH

Media coverage of studies needs more independent commentary

(Canadian Medical Association Journal) Media coverage of medical studies frequently includes comments from independent experts who lack expertise in the subject or who have undisclosed academic and financial conflicts of interest, according to a study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hMn6IR

Multi-social millennials more likely depressed than social(media)ly conservative peers

(University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences) Compared with the total time spent on social media, use of multiple platforms is more strongly associated with depression and anxiety among young adults, the University of Pittsburgh Center for Research on Media, Technology and Health found in a national survey. People who report using seven to 11 social media platforms had more than three times the risk of depression and anxiety than their peers who use zero to two platforms, even after adjusting for the total time spent on social media overall.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2i7kjcm

UVA discovers powerful defenders of the brain -- with big implications for disease

(University of Virginia Health System) A rare and powerful type of immune cell has been discovered in the meninges around the brain, suggesting the cells may play a critical but previously unappreciated role in battling Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, meningitis and other neurological diseases, in addition to supporting our healthy mental functioning. By harnessing the cells' power, doctors may be able to develop new treatments for neurological diseases, traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injuries - even migraines.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2i7dJTl

The transgender 'bathroom bill': Who wants it -- men or women?

(Springer) Most women are not bothered much about the fact that they might at times share public bathrooms designated for females with transgender women who were registered as men at birth. Men on the other hand take umbrage, and worry about the safety and privacy of the women in their lives. This is according to Rebecca Stones of Nankai University in China and Monash University in Australia, in an article in Springer's journal Gender Issues.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2i72fzd

Undocumented migrants may suffer from severe psychological distress

(Wiley) Undocumented migrants are an especially vulnerable group with regard to their health status, living conditions, and barriers to access to health care and social welfare. In a study that explored 90 undocumented migrants' mental health care needs, the level of psychological distress was extremely high.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2h2spFB

Study reveals inequalities in carbon footprints of Chinese households

(University of East Anglia) Inequalities in China's household carbon footprints and incomes risk undermining the country's attempts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, according to new research involving the University of East Anglia (UEA).

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hM2uAM

Rare look at youth post detention is bleak

(Northwestern University) A new Northwestern Medicine study offers a bleak assessment in a rare look at the outcomes of delinquent youth five and 12 years after juvenile detention. Central to poor outcomes for the youth post detention are stark and persistent racial, ethnic and gender disparities, according to the massive study that began in the mid-1990s.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hM7O71

Hospitalized patients treated by female physicians show lower mortality

(Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health) Elderly hospitalized patients treated by female physicians are less likely to die within 30 days of admission, or to be readmitted within 30 days of discharge, than those cared for by male physicians, according to a new study led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hAvQ6L

Earliest evidence discovered of plants cooked in ancient pottery

(University of Bristol) A team of international scientists, led by the University of Bristol, has uncovered the earliest direct evidence of humans processing plants for food found anywhere in the world.

from EurekAlert! - Archaeology http://ift.tt/2hMGRCN

Noise sensitivity traced to changes in brain functions

(University of Helsinki) The degree to which one is disturbed by noises of everyday life may be related to how the brain processes variations in the sound stream, according to new findings published in Scientific Reports.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gThOt0

Disgust is way of communicating moral rather than self-interested motivation

(University of Kent) New research carried out by psychologists at the University of Kent has shown for the first time that a decision to express disgust or anger depends on the motives a person seeks to communicate.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hMph1z

Girls with poorer motor skills more likely than boys to be obese

(Coventry University) Young girls who exhibit a poor mastery of fundamental movement skills (FMS) are more likely to be obese than boys who have similarly low skills, according to research led by Coventry University. Primary school children were assessed on -- among other things -- their running, catching, and balance skills, which were cross-referenced against their body fatness.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hMor52

Further evidence found for causal links between cannabis and schizophrenia

(University of Bristol) People who have a greater risk of developing schizophrenia are more likely to try cannabis, according to new research, which also found a causal link between trying the drug and an increased risk of the condition.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2h3nYff

Experts panel created to identify emerging technologies of greatest help to Africa

(Terry Collins Assoc) Harvard University's Calestous Juma will co-chair a new High Level African Panel on Emerging Technologies, created to identify and foster appropriate regulation and use of existing and emerging technologies of greatest help to Africa's economic development.The Panel is mandated to assess the ethical and safety requirements and standards of emerging technologies and help promote their responsible regulation without imposing an undue burden on their adoption.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hiAlQC

Russia-China: History and culture

(Kazan Federal University) 2017 is an anniversary year for all Russian sinologists. In the approaching 2017 Russian academic Oriental Studies will turn 200 years, and it will be 180 years since formation of first department of Chinese verbal folklore in Kazan Imperial University; 60 years since foundation of Russian-Chinese friendship Community and 10 years since foundation of Confucius Institute of Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University (CI KFU).

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2h3o3zH

The strange effects of thinking healthy food is costlier

(Ohio State University) Consumers believe healthy food must be more expensive than cheap eats and that higher-priced food is healthier -- even when there is no supporting evidence, according to new research. The results mean not only that marketers can charge more for products that are touted as healthy, but that consumers may not believe that a product is healthy if it doesn't cost more, researchers say.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hQPHMX

Poll: Some parents forgo car seats, other safety measures while traveling

(University of Michigan Health System) What some parents may not plan for ahead of vacation: accidental poisoning risks, gun safety and Uber rides.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hPEnAD

Neglect and abuse in childhood could have long-term economic consequences

(University College London) People who suffer neglect and abuse in childhood are much more likely to have time off work due to long-term sickness and less likely to own their own homes when they reach middle age than their peers, according to new research undertaken at UCL.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hKKgSE

Cancer costs leaving patients in debt

(European Society for Medical Oncology) Cancer patients are ending up in debt because they have to cover the costs of treatment as well as other care related expenses, researchers report at the ESMO Asia 2016 Congress in Singapore.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hFZJ6h

Depressed patients are less responsive to chemotherapy

(European Society for Medical Oncology) A brain-boosting protein plays an important role in how well people respond to chemotherapy, researchers report at the ESMO Asia 2016 Congress in Singapore.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hK5I74

Anxiety and depression a major issue for cancer survivors

(European Society for Medical Oncology) Cancer has a major impact on mental and physical wellbeing, researchers report at the ESMO Asia 2016 Congress in Singapore.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hG2STw

Routine blood test predicts how long cancer patients will survive

(European Society for Medical Oncology) A routine blood test can predict how long cancer patients in palliative care will survive, researchers report at the ESMO Asia 2016 Congress in Singapore.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hK9TQu

Outdoor recreation in protected areas negatively impacts wildlife

(Colorado State University) It's a good thing to explore the great outdoors. But a new study led by Colorado State University and the Wildlife Conservation Society found that recreation activities in protected areas are impacting wildlife.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hDsQHl

Early surgery increases risk of death for some uterine cancer patients, Penn study finds

(University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine) Delaying surgery after a diagnosis of uterine cancer can increase a women's risk of death, but operating too soon can be just as detrimental for some, Penn Medicine physicians report in a new study. In the study, women who had surgery (usually to remove the uterus) within the first two weeks after diagnosis had a significantly increased risk of death within five years, compared to those who had surgery three or four weeks after their initial diagnosis.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hsWbUv

Hookah tobacco labels are misleading, Roswell Park, UB researchers find

(University at Buffalo) Label information on many hookah tobacco products is misleading and may be misinterpreted by consumers, according to new research on nicotine and pH levels in hookah tobacco.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gToJXW

A potential pharmaceutical intervention for co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorder

(Medical University of South Carolina) Veterans with co-occurring PTSD and substance abuse disorder (SUD) who received the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine in addition to group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for their SUD had fewer PTSD symptoms and less craving and depression than those who underwent CBT alone, according to the findings of a randomized, controlled pilot trial recently reported by researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina and the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2h9vAsl

Researchers develop new test, better understanding of deadly infection in boas and pythons

(Morris Animal Foundation) A newly published study in The Veterinary Journal sheds light on inclusion body disease, and may help veterinary care teams better protect the health of their populations of large snakes. The study was funded in part by a grant from Morris Animal Foundation.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gSY1ii

Rheumatology community applauds CMS's decision to scrap Part B payment demo

(American College of Rheumatology) The American College of Rheumatology today applauded the decision from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) not to go forward with the agency's controversial Part B payment proposal, noting that the hard-fought outcome is good news for rheumatology patients who rely on Medicare Part B to access life-saving biologic therapies.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2h9eMC4

What makes influential science? Telling a good story

(University of Washington) Researchers from the University of Washington have found that scientific papers written in a more narrative style were more influential among peer-reviewed studies in the climate change literature. Their results were published Dec. 15 in the journal PLOS ONE.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hP7lnm

Home visits uncover fuller picture of challenges among low-income adults with asthma

(Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) Nationally, the highest rates of asthma-related deaths and hospitalizations are among low-income minority adults, but most existing research doesn't focus on these patients. Studies may not investigate patients where they live, in complicated circumstances. Many adult asthma patients have multiple diseases and exposure to tobacco smoke, but much research reflects the convenience of recruiting patients in clinics and the relative simplicity of studying patients without accompanying diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hP7kQv

COPD -- what causes the lungs to lose their ability to heal?

(Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health) In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the patients' lungs lose their ability to repair damages on their own. Scientists at the Helmholtz Zentrum München, partner in the German Center for Lung Research now have a new idea as to why this might be so. In the Journal of Experimental Medicine, they blame the molecule Wnt5a for this problem.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hFP34P

First data on rare sarcomas in Asian patients presented at ESMO Asia in Singapore

(European Society for Medical Oncology) The first data on rare sarcomas in Asian patients is presented in three studies today at the ESMO Asia 2016 Congress in Singapore. Just half of patients with advanced angiosarcoma received chemotherapy even though it improved overall survival. CIC-rearranged sarcomas are shown to have a much worse prognosis than BCOR-rearranged sarcomas and clinical features are identified to aid accurate diagnoses.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hCkjEL

Children dying preventable deaths from congenital heart disease

(Children's HeartLink) Over one million children are born with congenital heart disease (CHD) each year, and 90 percent are born in poor regions with little or no access to care. CHD and other serious birth defects are among the top five causes of death of children worldwide. Increasing access to care will save children's lives.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hWkFCr

A cure for social anxiety disorders

(Norwegian University of Science and Technology) Social phobia is the most common anxiety disorder of our time. But the current treatment regimen for patients with this diagnosis has not proven very effective. Norwegian and British researchers spent 10 years studying alternative treatments to find that cognitive therapy works best for social anxiety disorders.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hWo3gM

HSE researchers uncover why morning people should not work at night

(National Research University Higher School of Economics) It has been known for a long time that early risers work less efficiently at night than night owls do. But researchers from the Higher School of Economics and Oxford University have uncovered new and distinctive features between the night activities of these two types of individuals. At night, early risers demonstrate a quicker reaction time when solving unusual attention-related tasks than night owls, but these early risers make more mistakes along the way.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gT9xZh

Heart attack risk doubled for people with less education according to new Australian research

(Sax Institute) People who leave school without a school certificate are more than twice as likely to have a heart attack as those with a university degree, according to groundbreaking new Australian research from the largest ongoing study of healthy ageing in the Southern Hemisphere, the Sax Institute's 45 and Up Study.

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This is your brain on (legal) cannabis: Researchers seek answers

(Colorado State University) For those suffering depression or anxiety, using cannabis for relief may not be the long-term answer. That's according to new research from a team at Colorado State University. Researchers led by Lucy Troup, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, have published a study in PeerJ describing their findings from an in-depth, questionnaire-based analysis of 178 college-aged, legal users of cannabis.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gIXdHH

Research in worms provides a model to study how the human microbiome influences disease

(Buck Institute for Research on Aging) The human microbiome appears to play a significant role in health and disease, but the mechanisms of how it does so is not well understood. Researchers at the Buck Institute have used the nematode C. elegans to decipher how specific bacterial signals influence a host, whether the host is a worm or a human. It reveals for the first time how bacterial genes modify worm biology, with implications for future study of the human microbiome.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hOrWYW

Study estimates 1,900 arrest-related deaths occurred in US between June 2015-May 2016

(RTI International) An estimated 1,900 people died in the United States during arrest or while in police custody June 2015 through May 2016, according to a new report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and RTI International.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gSMFt7

OU, BU and Smithsonian researchers investigate ancient species in Gulf of Alaska

(University of Oklahoma) Invasive species have shaped island ecosystems and landscapes in the Gulf of Alaska, but their histories are unknown. In a study by the University of Oklahoma, Boston University and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, researchers investigated the archaeological and genetic history of the Arctic ground squirrel on Chirikof Island, Alaska. This small mammal has the ability to affect vegetation and seabirds on these islands and was introduced across much of this region as part of the historic fox farming industry.

from EurekAlert! - Archaeology http://ift.tt/2hFpKzO

Internet use in class tied to lower test scores

(Michigan State University) Warning: surfing the internet in class is now linked to poorer test scores, even among the most intelligent and motivated of students.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hAzb6f

The secret to raising a smart shopper: Pick the right parenting style

(Society for Consumer Psychology) Researchers found that children raised by parents who set limits and explain the reason behind these limits are most likely to develop into wise consumers.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hLwv6C

Using brands to vent relationship frustration

(Society for Consumer Psychology) When partners who are lower in relationship power feel frustrated with their significant others, they are more likely to buy something that is opposite to what their partners prefer.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hzjIDx

USF researcher awarded $1 million grant for new study on oil spill impacts

(University of South Florida (USF Innovation)) A research team led by University of South Florida professor Steven Murawski has been awarded a $1M grant to explore how oil spills, such as the Deepwater Horizon in 2010, impact the economic, ecological and social system aspects of fishing communities.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hBT6zd

Waging a more effective war against viral outbreaks

(Arizona State University) As societies grow more complex and interconnected, an ASU mathematical biologist calls for a similar evolution in models to combat communicable disease.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hyUUvB

Bad people are disgusting, bad actions are angering

(Association for Psychological Science) A person's character, more so than their actions, determines whether we find immoral acts to be 'disgusting,' according to new research in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hyUEfW

There's a science to gift giving -- experiences are better than material items

(University of Toronto) New research finds that when it comes to gifts, giving an experience fosters a stronger relationship than material items.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gOjusR

EurekAlert! Fellowships 'validating' for Chinese, Indian science reporters at the dawn of their careers

(American Association for the Advancement of Science) Winners of the 2017 EurekAlert! Fellowships for International Science Reporters say the opportunity to attend the world's largest general scientific meeting and network with reporters and scientists offers validation for their hard work while strengthening their resolve to communicate science to the public.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gFPTg2

National Academy of Medicine launches 'action collaborative' to promote clinician well-being and combat burnout, depression, and suicide among health-care workers

(National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine) In response to alarming evidence of high rates of depression and suicide among US health-care workers, the National Academy of Medicine is launching a wide-ranging 'action collaborative' of multiple organizations to promote clinician well-being and resilience.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hKL9uP

Austin to host cutting-edge linguistic research in January

(Linguistic Society of America) Research presentations on slang, texting habits, vocal fry, political speaking styles, and the discovery of a new language family are among the highlights of the upcoming Annual Meeting of the Linguistic Society of America (LSA), to be held in Austin, Texas, from Jan. 5-8, 2017. The 91st Annual Meeting of the LSA will bring over 1,000 linguistics scholars from across the US and around the world to Austin.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hp6IzS

Bad bosses come in 2 forms: Dark or dysfunctional

(Binghamton University) Bad bosses generally come in two forms. There are the dysfunctional ones, like Michael Scott from the TV series 'The Office'; then there are the dark ones, like Gordon Gekko from the film Wall Street. Researchers including Seth M. Spain from Binghamton University, State University of New York are building a framework to better understand the behaviors of bad bosses and to reduce workplace stress.

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New approach for cancer prevention in BRCA1 mutation-positive women from Josef Penninger

(US Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs) With his DoD BCRP Innovator Award, Dr. Penninger investigated whether RANKL inhibition could be used to prevent breast cancer in mouse models.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hB0YRf

Depressed children respond differently to rewards than other kids

(Washington University School of Medicine) Adults and teenagers with depression don't respond to rewards in a normal manner. Although depression has been diagnosed in children as young as 3, it hasn't been clear whether their responses to rewards also may be blunted. So Washington University researchers studied kids ages 4 to 7 and found that, like adults, when the children were depressed, their brains were less likely to respond to rewards. The researchers say insensitivity to rewards may serve as a 'red flag' for depression in young children.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hy9O58

Alzheimer's: Proteomics gives clues toward alternatives to amyloid

(Emory Health Sciences) In Alzheimer's research, one particular protein looms large: plaque-forming amyloid-beta. Yet plaques can accumulate decades before symptoms appear, and clinical trials aimed at controlling amyloid-beta have mostly flopped so far. Emory scientists are using proteomics to look for alternative mechanisms and treatment strategies.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hAbrNu

Timing may be key to understanding cognitive problems in Parkinson's disease

(University of Iowa Health Care) University of Iowa research shows that people with Parkinson's disease (PD) and mice that lack dopamine both are missing a critical brain wave needed for timing actions -- a cognitive process that's consistently impaired in patients with PD. Brain stimulation at the same frequency as the missing brain wave restores timing ability in mice lacking dopamine, suggesting that it might be possible to use brain stimulation to improve cognitive problems in PD.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hpdg1n

Turning back time: Salk scientists reverse signs of aging

(Salk Institute) New approach rejuvenated organs and helped animals live longer.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hAgFII

Cellular reprogramming slows aging in mice

(Cell Press) Scientists have rolled back time for live mice through systemic cellular reprogramming, according to a study published Dec. 15 in Cell. In mice carrying a mutation leading to premature aging, reprogramming of chemical marks in the genome, known as epigenetic marks, reduced many signs of aging in the mice and extended their lifespan on average from 18 weeks to 24.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hpbhKG

'Cultural distinctiveness' can influence consumer preferences for certain products

(University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) The concept of 'cultural distinctiveness' prompts consumers to fulfill a need to connect with home by favoring brands or products associated with a related cultural group, says U. of I. business professor and branding expert Carlos J. Torelli.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hy1eDC

Potentially avoidable breast cancer surgeries cost patients and health-care system

(University of British Columbia Okanagan campus) A recent study by UBC medical researchers examined the health care costs associated with lumpectomy patients requiring reoperations. A lumpectomy, known as breast conservation surgery, is a procedure that removes tumors, aims to conserve breast tissue, and is followed by radiation therapy.The study concluded that with Canadian reoperation rates being more than double recommended targets, the additional cost to BC's health care system alone is $2 million per year.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hAVxBJ

Lung-in-the-lab reveals no DNA damage on exposure to e-cig vapor

(R&D at British American Tobacco) E-cigarette vapor does not damage DNA, even at doses 28 times that of equivalent smoke exposure.Scientists at British American Tobacco used lab-based cellular tests to examine the impact of cigarette smoke and Vype e-cigarette vapor on human lung cells. The most serious kind of DNA damage is double-strand break, which effectively means that both strands of the DNA molecule have been broken. This is a possible precursor to cancer and potentially lethal to the cell.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hA3KGY

Chemists identify genetic mutation that opens door in combatting age-related diseases

(University of Surrey) Researchers at the University of Surrey, in collaboration with the Universities of Reading and Cologne, and the Royal Berkshire Hospital, have discovered that it is possible to stop the activation of a group of proteins (NADPH Oxidase) known to cause most of the diseases of ageing. This will potentially pave the way for the development of drugs to treat a range of age-related diseases.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gF5Jrl

Asian head and neck cancer patients live longer with immunotherapy than mixed race group

(European Society for Medical Oncology) Asian head and neck cancer patients live longer with the immunotherapy pembrolizumab than the overall population, according to a sub-analysis of the KEYNOTE-012 trial presented at the ESMO ASIA 2016 Congress in Singapore.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hy8YFr

Dental hygiene, caveman style

(Springer) Bits of wood recovered from a 1.2-million-year-old tooth found at an excavation site in northern Spain indicate that the ancient relatives of man may have use a kind of toothpick. According to study leader Karen Hardy of the Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies and the Universtat Autònoma de Barcelona, what they ate was consumed raw. The findings are published in Springer's journal The Science of Nature.

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MIT Energy Initiative report provides guidance for evolving electric power sector

(MIT Energy Initiative) An MIT Energy Initiative report developed with IIT-Comillas recommends proactive regulatory, policy, and market reforms that can help guide the evolution of electric power systems in the US, Europe, and other parts of the world. Distributed energy resources like wind, solar, and energy storage should be integrated with centralized resources, which can be achieved by creating a level playing field in terms of pricing and regulated charges, and removal of inefficient barriers that impede competition.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hxQODP

People's energy in the workplace is key to staff retention

(University of Surrey) A research study has found that people's energy towards colleagues has a major influence on how likely they are to leave their job voluntarily. The in-depth study was undertaken with IT workers over a four-year period by academics at the Grenoble Ecole de Management and the Surrey Business School at University of Surrey.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hAKOr8

Impact of aging on brain connections mapped in major scan study

(University of Edinburgh) Brain connections that play a key role in complex thinking skills show the poorest health with advancing age, new research by the University of Edinburgh suggests.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hxF8Bc

The pill won't kill your sexual desire, researchers say

(Elsevier) Taking the pill doesn't lower your sexual desire, contrary to popular belief, according to research published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine. The authors of the research, from the University of Kentucky and Indiana University in the US, say the evidence explaining what affects women's sexual desire is mixed and more research is needed.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gER2of

Cancer registries in resource-constrained countries can inform policy to reduce cancer burden

(Elsevier) Data from population-based cancer registries are vital for informing health programs, policies and strategies for cancer screening and treatment. A special issue of Cancer Epidemiology, prepared under the auspices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, offers lessons for planning and supporting cancer registration in resource-constrained settings to support data-driven policies on cancer prevention, early detection and appropriate treatment leading to significant cost savings for government and society as a whole.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hoERQi

When horses are in trouble they ask humans for help

(Kobe University) A new study demonstrates that when horses face unsolvable problems they use visual and tactile signals to get human attention and ask for help. The study also suggests that horses alter their communicative behavior based on humans' knowledge of the situation. These findings were published in the online version of Animal Cognition on Nov. 24.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hxDjUV

Analyzing brain patterns may help scientists increase people's confidence, reduce fear

(University of California - Los Angeles) A UCLA-led international team of neuroscientists has reduced fear unconsciously using a new method that analyzes brain patterns. And in new research published today, the researchers report they have used the same approach to increase self-confidence in people.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hAqXIM

New report finds health wearable devices pose new consumer and privacy risks

(American University) New research weighs in on the debate over the lack of safeguards built into the health-care system for fitness trackers.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gER4w8

Businesses shape international law through 'astroturf activism,' paper finds

(University of Washington) A new paper from the University of Washington finds that corporate interests play a powerful role in international legal processes, sometimes by covertly co-opting non-governmental organizations to lobby lawmakers on their behalf -- creating a type of 'astroturf activism' that masquerades as grassroots efforts.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hJLWMv

A better way for policymakers to win over constituents

(University of California - Berkeley Haas School of Business) Why do people accept some policies and reject others when the outcomes are the same? Getting the desired results depends on the policy's messaging and whether people's behavior is voluntary or obligatory. Study participants favored outcomes that reward positive and voluntary behavior. Likewise, people tend to favor punishing people's behavior when it runs afoul of an obligation or rule but oppose preferential treatment for those who did not break the rules.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gEMI8E

Manipulating brain activity to boost confidence

(ATR Brain Information Communication Research Laboratry Group) Is it possible to directly boost one's own confidence by directly training the brain? Researchers have discovered a way to implicitly amplify confidence in the brain by combining the use of artificial intelligence and brain imaging technology. The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, could lead to important applications in clinical, medical and social settings.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hwHWOE

Raw foodies: Europe's earliest humans did not use fire

(University of York) New research conducted by scientists at the University of York and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona reveals for the first time that Europe's earliest humans did not use fire for cooking, but had a balanced diet of meat and plants -- all eaten raw.

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Does Santa only visit rich kids?

(Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health) Contrary to the popular notion that Santa gives presents to children who are 'nice' and not 'naughty,' it may be that visits from Santa have more to do with socioeconomic factors than child behavior, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hxlz9i

Jneurosci: Highlights from the Dec. 14 issue

(Society for Neuroscience) Check out these newsworthy studies from the Dec.14, 2016, issue of JNeurosci. Media interested in obtaining the full text of the studies should contact media@sfn.org.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hGAPnq

True lies: People who lie via telling truth viewed harshly, study finds

(American Psychological Association) The ability to deceive someone by telling the truth is not only possible, it has a name -- paltering -- it's common in negotiations and those who palter can do serious harm to their reputations, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hGf3jN

Psychologists analyze links between provider burnout, quality of care, patient safety

(Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis School of Science) Psychologists from the School of Science at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis conducted a meta-analysis of 82 studies in the first study to systematically, quantitatively analyze the links between health care provider burnout and health care quality and safety across medical disciplines.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2h1tF9u

How hearing 'twist my arm' engages the brain

(Emory Health Sciences) Listening to metaphors involving arms or legs loops in a region of the brain responsible for visual perception of those body parts, Emory scientists have discovered.More evidence for 'grounded cognition': the idea that comprehension of abstract concepts in the brain is built upon concrete experiences.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gJNO7V

FAU to receive millions from united states department of transportation

(Florida Atlantic University) Whether it's planes, trains or automobiles, the nation's transportation systems are growing rapidly and present a number of challenges related to safety as well as sustainability. As a Tier 1 University Transportation Center, the Freight Mobility Research Institute will help to address critical issues affecting the planning, design, operation, and safety of the nation's intermodal freight transportation system.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hFSKun

Vaccination increases family wealth, girls' education

(Washington State University) A Washington State University-led research team found households in rural Africa that vaccinate their cattle for East Coast fever increased their income and spent the additional money on food and education. Researchers also found that when fewer cattle died from the fever, girls were more likely to attend secondary school.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gBJuT3

Runners' brains may be more connected, research shows

(University of Arizona) Runners' brains appear to have greater functional connectivity than non-runners' brains, according to new research from the University of Arizona. MRI scans show that running may affect the structure and function of the brain in ways similar to complex tasks such as playing a musical instrument.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hubxIE

Study: Opioid prescribing declines following release of national guidelines for physicians

(St. Michael's Hospital) The rate of opioid use in Canada has fallen 13.7 percent since the publication in May 2010 of national guidelines for their use in chronic non-cancer pain, a new study has found.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hFXUXw

Lecturing likely not effective for developing problem-solving skills in students

(University of British Columbia Okanagan campus) Traditional university lectures are likely not an effective way to help post-secondary students acquire problem-solving skills.In a recent study, researchers at UBC's Okanagan campus developed a testing system to measure the problem-solving abilities of students in various stages of their undergraduate degrees.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hFBPIz

Joslin researcher will work in MoTrPAC to map molecular changes from physical activity

(Joslin Diabetes Center) Laurie J. Goodyear Ph.D., Senior Investigator and co-Head of the Section on Integrative Physiology and Metabolism at the Joslin Diabetes Center, and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, has received one of the first awards for the Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity in Humans Consortium (MoTrPac) announced today by the NIH.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2h0GyRf

New book offers help and hope for people suffering from low vision

(Institute for Medical Psychology, Otto-v.-Guericke University Magdeburg) A new book by the world's leading expert on vision restoration, Professor Bernhard A. Sabel, Ph.D., delivers information about how to better understand the impact of vision loss and new treatment options that could potentially help the more than 150 million people worldwide who suffer from partial blindness.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gJ1kZf

New virtual reality technology may improve motor skills in damaged limbs

(American Friends of Tel Aviv University) New Tel Aviv University research suggests that a combination of traditional physical therapy and technology may improve the motor skills and mobility of an impaired hand by having its healthy partner hand lead by example through virtual reality training.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gLvutd

N-acetylcysteine shows early promise in reducing alcohol use in marijuana-dependent teens

(Medical University of South Carolina) N-acetylcysteine (NAC) reduced alcohol use in a small cohort of marijuana-dependent adolescents who exhibited reductions in marijuana use, report researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina in the December 2016 Addictive Behaviors. In this secondary analysis of data from an earlier trial of NAC in marijuana-dependent adolescents, MUSC researchers show that reduced marijuana use was associated with reductions in alcohol consumption in the NAC-treated, but not placebo-treated teens.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hNO9T5

Cigar warnings: Do teens believe them?

(University of North Carolina Health Care) Significant differences exist in the believability of specific cigar warnings, suggesting that more work is needed to establish the best warnings to dissuade youth from smoking cigars.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gIU5AQ

Creative approach to probing genome IDs genes that likely influence bone strength

(University of Virginia Health System) In an important step in the battle against osteoporosis, a serious brittle bone disease that affects millions, researchers have identified more than a dozen genes amid the vast human genome likely responsible for bone density and strength.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gAWto1

Celebrity chefs have poor food safety practices, a Kansas State University study finds

(Kansas State University) Kansas State University food safety experts viewed 100 cooking shows with 24 popular celebrity chefs and found several unclean food preparation behaviors. Kansas State University food safety experts Edgar Chambers IV and Curtis Maughan, along with Tennessee State University's Sandria Godwin, recently published 'Food safety behaviors observed in celebrity chefs across a variety of programs' in the Journal of Public Health.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2htsQtw

Switching to daylight saving time may lead to harsher legal sentences

(Association for Psychological Science) Judges in the United States tend to give defendants longer sentences the day after switching to daylight saving time compared with other days of the year, according to research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hNuCCn

Gesturing can boost children's creative thinking

(Association for Psychological Science) Encouraging children to use gestures as they think can help them come up with more creative ideas, according to research in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gL9A9v

Study: Challenges in going from residential substance abuse treatment to the community

(New York University) Residential 'in-patient' treatment for substance abuse is a preferred option for those seeking to recover. However, relapse within the first year following discharge ranges from 37 percent to 56 percent. Engagement in aftercare improves this statistic; only about half use outpatient care, and even fewer stick with it. Researchers explored the factors that hinder and help individuals transition from long-term residential substance abuse treatment centers to the community.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gIBPXY

Technology communication: Worries through information?

(Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) ) In democratic societies, it is considered an obligation of researchers and politicians to inform the public about modern technologies and their potential risks. Researchers of KIT and the University of Wollongong, Australia, recently found that information about technologies and their risks may have undesired side effects. It may also cause worries where they do not seem appropriate, as is reported in the international Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hvoBuJ

Investment in medicine regulatory authorities key to fighting the 21st century 'Third Man'

(Infectious Diseases Data Observatory) From Vienna to the Democratic Republic of Congo, fake medicines have threatened citizens across the board -- and borders -- in wartime as well as peacetime. 'Fake Penicillin, The Third Man and Operation Claptrap,' an article published today in BMJ's online Christmas edition, visits the history of falsified drugs and highlights what needs to be done to avert a problem that threatens us all.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hNhBsu

Newly revealed amino acid function could be used to boost antioxidant levels

(Kobe University) A Japanese research team has become the first in the world to discover that 2-aminobutyric acid is closely involved in the metabolic regulation of the antioxidant glutathione, and that it can effectively raise levels of glutathione in the body when ingested.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hwlQty

Infants show apparent awareness of ethnic differences, UCLA psychologists report

(University of California - Los Angeles) Infants less than a year old, who have yet to learn language, are aware of ethnic differences, a new study by UCLA psychologists shows.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hlziCk

College bowl games deliver $1.5 billion annual economic impact

(San Diego State University) A new report puts the economic impact of the nation's college bowl games at $1.5 billion annually. The study, conducted by researchers at San Diego State University's Payne School of Hospitality & Tourism Management and George Washington University, is the first comprehensive economic impact study looking at all 41 post-season bowl games.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gKXKMQ

Invisible symptoms impact rheumatoid arthritis patients' lives, hinder diagnosis

(Health Union) Rheumatoid Arthritis In America 2016, a national survey by Health Union of more than 3,100 individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), reveals that initial symptoms are often invisible to others, with respondents experiencing more than six on average. Among respondents, receiving a diagnosis often proved difficult with the average time between initial symptoms and diagnosis spanning four years. In addition, respondents feel stigmatized for often not looking sick and the unpredictable nature of the health condition.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gInScz

Forsyth study provides new insight in the fight against Sjögren's syndrome

(Forsyth Institute) Sjögren's syndrome is the second most common autoimmune disease affecting four million Americans -- yet treatments are limited due to a lack of knowledge about its causes. A new study from the Forsyth Institute is helping to shed light on what happens in the development and the life cycle of the disease. This study is one of the first to define the immune-regulatory mechanisms operating in Sjögren's syndrome and provides a new foundation for fighting the disease.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hso3Z2

Weight and body image misperception associated with alcohol use among teen girls

(Tufts University, Health Sciences Campus) High school girls with body image behavioral misperceptions are more likely to have had at least one alcoholic drink, as well as engaged in episodes of heavy drinking, than their peers without these misperceptions.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gJFYJz

Skin cells 'crawl' together to heal wounds treated with unique hydrogel layer

(University of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering) A team led by Professor Milica Radisic in U of T Engineering has demonstrated for the first time that their peptide-hydrogel biomaterial prompts skin cells to 'crawl' toward one another, closing chronic, non-healing wounds often associated with diabetes, such as bed sores and foot ulcers.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hM1cnX

Smartphones and tablets and adolescents: Small size, big problems?

(Elsevier Health Sciences) Research has shown that when children watch too much television, their risk of obesity increases. However, more and more screen time is coming from other devices, like tablets and smartphones, and the impact of these devices has not been researched as much. In a new study scheduled for publication in the Journal of Pediatrics, researchers found that children who reported spending more time on screen devices and watching television engaged in behaviors that can lead to obesity.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hLNP7g

Complex, interrelated global problems require broader 'connect-the-dots' science approach: UNESCO

(Terry Collins Assoc) The 'business as usual' approach to scientific problem-solving -- characterized too often by narrow, disconnected, uni-dimensional research -- simply isn't up to the vital task of addressing the world's increasingly complex, inter-connected problems.That's the quandary inspiring a high-level international experts meeting to be conducted in Malaysia under the auspices of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The mandate: Recommend how to stimulate worldwide a large-perspective, trans-disciplinary scientific approach.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gXsMhY

NIFA A=announces $5 million in funding for food, energy, and water systems research

(National Institute of Food and Agriculture ) The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced the availability of up to $5 million in funding for research to better understand how food, energy and water systems interact, and how they can be sustained.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2hj9re3