Using science to understand how ballot design impacts voter behavior

(Association for Psychological Science) Concern over the security of the voting process has been a recurring issue in the run up to the US presidential election. But psychological science suggests that an even bigger problem may lurk within our voting systems: poor design.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2fpfWN4

New survey shows obesity ties cancer as top health threat

(NORC at the University of Chicago) Americans take obesity as seriously as cancer, and say it's an even bigger health threat than heart disease, the nation's leading killer, yet most do not go beyond traditional diets or involve doctors in their largely unsuccessful personal struggles against the disease, according to a new survey by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the independent research organization, NORC at the University of Chicago.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2fpfv5q

Is shotgun marriage dead?

(Duke University) Shotgun marriages have faded in popularity overall, but are on the rise among some groups, says new research from Duke University. And not all shotgun marriages are as rocky as one might think.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2fpf8Ii

Survey: Majority under 35 think e-cigs are safer, research studies aim to find out

(MediaSource) A new national survey shows most of Americans under the age of 35 think using electronic cigarettes is not as harmful on the lungs as traditional cigarettes.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2f7prgb

Young adults' problem drinking may have lasting health effects

(Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs) Young adults with symptoms of alcohol dependence may see health effects late in life -- even decades after conquering their problem drinking, according to a study in the November 2016 issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

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

New $3 million NCI grant at OU aims to help people stop smoking

(University of Oklahoma) Nearly seven in 10 cigarette smokers are looking for a way to quit -- and many smokers have turned to e-cigarettes for help. A researcher at the Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center at the Stephenson Cancer Center has received a five-year, $3 million R01 grant from the National Cancer Institute to study the impact of e-cigarette usage on smoking rates.

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

Data indicate significant impact of NIH African bioethics training programs

(Johns Hopkins Medicine) A study published in BMJ Open looks back on 10 bioethics training programs funded by the Fogarty International Center at the US National Institutes of Health.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2esB5RN

Archaeological evidence at major risk in wetlands

(University of York) Important archaeological remains at wetland sites across the world could be at immediate risk, say scientists at the University of York.

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

Study reveals the brain regulates social behavior differently in males and females

(Georgia State University) The brain regulates social behavior differently in males and females, according to a new study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2efL13m

Your vacay photo social media posts help science says Utah State University researcher

(Utah State University) Researchers from Utah State University, Vrije Universiteit and North Carolina State University use data from popular photo-sharing social media platforms to map European destinations most valued by the public.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2dVWma6

Social media photos priceless for natural resources research

(North Carolina State University) Crowdsourced information can provide a continental perspective on the scenic places where people live, work and play. Using geotagged data from photo-sharing platforms, researchers from North Carolina State University created a predictive model that can inform land use decisions and policy.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2esqVR7

Study links athletic performance to mortality

(University of Arizona) New University of Arizona research suggests that athletes perform better when reminded of something a bit grim: their impending death. Researchers say athletes presented with reminders of mortality play better in a subconscious effort to boost self-esteem, which acts as a buffer against fear of death.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2dVIHA7

In communicating wildlife conservation, focus on the right message

(Cornell University) If you want people to care about endangered species, focus on how many animals are left, not on the chances of a species becoming extinct, according to a new study by Cornell University communication scholars.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2f1DTZG

Raising 'good cholesterol' not as effective as lowering 'bad cholesterol'

(American College of Cardiology) Low and very high levels of HDL, or 'good cholesterol' are associated with a higher risk of dying from heart disease, cancer and other causes, according to a study today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The findings from the first of its kind study suggest that a low level of good cholesterol may not be a heart disease risk factor on its own and that raising HDL does not likely reduce a person's risk of heart disease.

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

White coat hypertension may indicate risk for heart disease in some people

(American College of Cardiology) White coat hypertension, where patients have high blood pressure readings in a medical setting but normal blood pressure outside the doctor's office, is most likely an innocuous condition that is not a predictor of heart disease or stroke -- except in a small group of older patients where it may be an indicator of another condition.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2esd5hx

Getting into the flow: Sexual pleasure is a kind of trance

(Northwestern University) Many people have speculated on the evolutionary functions of the human orgasm, but the underlying mechanisms have remained mysterious. In a new paper, a Northwestern University researcher seeks to shed light on how orgasm works in the brain, coming up with a model in which rhythmic sexual activity likely influences brain rhythms.

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

IU study finds slight shift in attitudes toward bisexuals, from negative to neutral

(Indiana University) While positive attitudes toward gay men and lesbians have increased over recent decades, a new study led by researchers at IU's Center for Sexual Health Promotion shows attitudes toward bisexual men and women are relatively neutral, if not ambivalent.

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

Potential target identified for preventing long-term effects of traumatic brain injury

(University of Iowa Health Care) More than 200,000 US soldiers serving in the Middle East have experienced a blast-related traumatic brain injury, making it a common health problem and concern for that population. A University of Iowa study in mice suggests that protecting axons -- the fiber-like projections that connect brain cells -- could prevent the long-term neuropsychiatric problems caused by blast-related traumatic brain injury.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2f12TjE

How the fruit fly's brain knows where the fruit fly's going

(JLM&A, SA ) When we turn our head to one side, the visual field 'turns' the other way. When we are on a train, the landscape slides by us. However, we know that we are the ones moving, while the world remains in place. How does the brain avoid being fooled by apparent motion?

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

Twelve DNA areas 'linked with the age at which we have our first child and family size'

(University of Oxford) Researchers have identified 12 specific areas of the DNA sequence that are robustly related with the age at which we have our first child, and the total number of children we have during the course of our life.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2f1aOxf

Zika infection causes reduced fertility, low testosterone in male mice

(Washington University School of Medicine) A new study in mice suggests that Zika infection may have worrisome consequences for men that interfere with their ability to have children. The research indicates that the virus targets the male reproductive system. Three weeks after male mice were infected with Zika, their testicles had shrunk, levels of their sex hormones had dropped, and their fertility was reduced.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2f18BCi

Making sense of the seneses: 'Context' matters when the brain interprets sounds

(NYU Langone Medical Center / New York University School of Medicine) The brain's interpretation of sound is influenced by cues from other senses, explaining more precisely how we interpret what we hear at a particular moment, according to a report published in Nature Neuroscience online Oct. 31.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2f197A2

Fossils reveal approaching relocation of plants on Earth

(Faculty of Science - University of Copenhagen) Significant changes in the distribution of plants on Earth can be a reality by 2050. The prediction is made by scientists from Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate at the University of Copenhagen, based on fossilized pollen. The pollen stems from plants that existed during previous periods with climate changes -- similar to those expected in this century.

from EurekAlert! - Archaeology http://ift.tt/2f576kt

Brain & Behavior Research Foundation honors nine for outstanding psychiatric research

(Brain & Behavior Research Foundation) The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation honored nine scientists with its 2016 Outstanding Achievement Prizes for their work in schizophrenia, mood disorders, child and adolescent psychiatry, and cognitive neuroscience. The award presentation took place on Friday, Oct. 28th at the Foundation's 29th Annual National Awards Dinner, celebrating the transformative power of neuroscience and psychiatric research to improve the lives of people with mental illness, which affects one in five people.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2f5whD7

Wild cat brains: An evolutionary curveball

(Michigan State University) The brains of wild cats don't necessarily respond to the same evolutionary pressures as those of their fellow mammals, humans and primates, indicates a surprising new study led by a Michigan State University neuroscientist.

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

Does the mother know her child the best?

(Aarhus University) New research shows that mental problems affect the mother's judgement and that dad is just as good as mum at evaluating the child's scholastic and social skills. This is important to consider in e.g. parental rights cases, claim the researchers behind the study.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2f5vxxR

Few children born to parents with serious mental illness live with both parents while growing up

(Elsevier) A study published in the November 2016 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that the living arrangements of children whose parents have a serious mental illness differ from the general population.

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

Eric Garner video shapes New Yorkers' support for police accountability: Study

(Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health) In a household survey of registered voters across New York State, a majority of respondents said that police officers involved in the 2014 arrest and death of Eric Garner should have been indicted; after watching video of the encounter, that proportion jumped from 57 percent to 71 percent. A majority of respondents supported Governor Andrew Cuomo's call for expanded authority to appoint a special prosecutor in cases where police are involved in civilian deaths.

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

Bedtime use of media devices more than doubles the risk of poor sleep in children

(King's College London) Children using devices such as smartphones and tablets at bedtime have over double the risk of a disrupted night's sleep compared to children without access to such devices, according to a new study led by researchers from King's College London.

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

Understanding mind-wandering could shed light on mental illness: UBC research

(University of British Columbia) If you think the mind grinds to a halt when you're doing nothing, think again.A University of British Columbia-led review of mind-wandering research, published in the November issue of Nature Reviews Neuroscience, proposes a new framework for understanding how thoughts flow, even at rest.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2f5rf9E

Hospitalizations for children, teens attributed to opioid poisoning jump

(The JAMA Network Journals) The overall incidence of hospitalizations for prescription opioid poisonings in children and adolescents has more than doubled from 1997 to 2012, with increasing incidence of poisonings attributed to suicide or self-inflicted injury and accidental intent, according to a new study published online by JAMA Pediatrics.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2fn5qWK

New sperm research could lead to cut in infertility rate

(Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) Sperm and mathematics don't appear to be the likeliest of bedfellows -- but new research bringing the two together could lead to devices that could cut infertility rates.Today sees the start of National Fertility Awareness Week (31 October - 6 November 2016) and with infertility affecting about one in six people, a team of mathematicians, bioengineers, computer engineers and clinicians are working on a system that could identify which sperm are able to successfully deliver their cargo of DNA to the egg.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2e5h8zl

Most British scientists cited in study feel Richard Dawkins' work misrepresents science

(Rice University) A new Rice University study of British scientists reveals that a majority who mentioned Dawkins' work during research interviews reject his approach to public engagement and said his work misrepresents science and scientists.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2e53axr

The more connected we feel to others, the more socially responsible we are

(INSEAD) Those who feel a high degree of social connectedness feel their actions have a greater impact on others. This encourages them to act in a more responsible way.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2fwy472

UBC researchers create new method to classify dangerous sex offenders

(University of British Columbia Okanagan campus) UBC researchers have developed a new classification system that could help police solve sex crimes.Using classified anonymous police case files and court records, researchers at UBC's Okanagan campus uncovered new subtypes of high-risk sexual offenders that could give police insight into the behaviour of convicted sex offenders who have been released into the community.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2fmO6Bj

Novel, nonsurgical approach helps adolescent athletes with vocal cord dysfunction

(MediaSource) A new study shows that a novel, nonsurgical approach to treating vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) can help 3 out of 4 adolescent athletes, who did not respond to conventional therapy, breathe better during training and competition.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2f51w0V

Policy to prevent opioid overdose presented at national meeting

(University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences) Training Allegheny County Jail inmates in the use of the heroin overdose antidote drug

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2f4VIoh

Thinking of loved ones lessens our need to 'reconnect' through anthropomorphism

(Association for Psychological Science) Reminding people of their close, caring relationships can reduce their tendency to anthropomorphize objects as a way of feeling socially connected, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The study replicates and extends earlier findings showing that people who report feeling lonely are more likely to ascribe humanlike characteristics to inanimate objects than those who aren't lonely.

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

Top-level football refs are better at spotting fouls because of enhanced visual perception

(BioMed Central) Top-level professional football referees have enhanced visual perception, which means that they are better at spotting foul play and issuing the correct disciplinary action than lower-level referees, according to new research published in the journal Cognitive Research.

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

Cognitive behavioral therapy effective for older people with insomnia

(American Geriatrics Society) A team of researchers developed a new cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI) treatment program. The program uses trained 'sleep coaches' who are not therapists. They learn how to give CBTI using a manual and have weekly, supervised telephone calls with a CBTI psychologist. The program requires brief training for the sleep coaches, who are social workers or other health educators.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2eNw3zU

Texas Tech Health Sciences Center research targets medications for those with depression

(Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center) Researchers from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) have discovered the FDA approved drug bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban) blocks the function of the serotonin type 3A receptors (5-HT3ARs) and further characterized bupropion's pharmacological effects at these receptors.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2dPxS2m

Study: Pop-culture news helped destigmatize out-of-wedlock childbirth

(University at Buffalo) Celebrity news reports over the past four decades appear to have contributed to the changing makeup of the traditional American family by helping to destigmatize out-of-wedlock childbirths in the United States, according to a study by a University at Buffalo sociologist.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2dPqt3c

Autism spectrum disorder linked to mutations in some mitochondrial DNA

(PLOS) Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder have greater numbers of harmful mutations in their mitochondrial DNA than family members, report Zhenglong Gu of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and colleagues, in a study published Oct. 28, 2016, in PLOS Genetics.

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

Collaboration yields open source technology for computational science

(DOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory) The gap between the computational science and open source software communities just got smaller -- thanks to an international collaboration among national laboratories, universities and industry.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2eZEGq7

Study: Conservation preferred way to protect drinking water

(University of Delaware) A new study from the University of Delaware found when given the choice, people prefer to invest their money in conservation, such as protecting key areas of a watershed -- also referred to as green infrastructure -- than traditional water treatment plants -- also referred to as gray infrastructure.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2eV6Nsv

New study: Children with autism may be over-diagnosed with ADHD

(Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) Pediatric researchers report that children with ASD may mistakenly be diagnosed with ADHD because they have autism-related social impairments rather than problems with attention. This is important for understanding what are the right services and treatments for a child.

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

Early Pacific seafarers likely latched onto El Nino and other climate patterns

(University of Oregon) Climate patterns, including the El Nino Southern Oscillation, likely were known to long-ago Pacific Ocean seafarers and may have helped their exploration and settlement of islands in Remote Oceania, concludes a research team that included University of Oregon anthropologist Scott Fitzpatrick.

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

Early Pacific seafarers likely latched onto El Nino and other climate patterns

(University of Oregon) Climate patterns, including the El Nino Southern Oscillation, likely were known to long-ago Pacific Ocean seafarers and may have helped their exploration and settlement of islands in Remote Oceania, concludes a research team that included University of Oregon anthropologist Scott Fitzpatrick.

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

US-Mexico border crisis marked by 3 'wars,' Baker Institute expert says

(Rice University) The contradictory approach of United States policy toward the US-Mexico border could lead to a rise in anti-American sentiment in residents of Mexico and squelch any hopes of a North American community bound by a strong economic relationship in a peaceful and democratic region, according to an expert at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.

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

Young people with liver conditions face an elevated risk of depression and anxiety

(Wiley) Researchers have found that many teens and young adults with chronic liver conditions suffer from depression and anxiety, which can have considerable impacts on their emotional and physical health. The findings, which are published in Liver Transplantation, indicate that greater attention should be directed to the mental health of these young patients.

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

Turnout for mayoral elections abysmally low

(Portland State University) Across the country, it is now common that 15 percent or less of eligible citizens vote in elections for mayor, city council and important civic issues, researchers find.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2dPTd6R

Placebo sweet spot for pain relief found in brain

(Northwestern University) Scientists have identified for the first time the region in the brain responsible for the placebo effect in pain relief. Pinpointing the sweet spot of the pain killing placebo effect could result in the design of more personalized medicine by enabling targeted pain medication based on how an individual's brain responds to a drug. The finding also will lead to more accurate clinical trials for pain medications by eliminating individuals with high placebo response before trials.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2eK9Na2

Male birth control shots prevent pregnancy

(The Endocrine Society) Men can take birth control shots to prevent pregnancy in their female partners, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2eKHco2

Impulsive personality linked to greater risk for early onset of meth use

(Oregon State University) Methamphetamine users who described themselves as impulsive were more likely to have started taking the drug at an earlier age, a study of more than 150 users showed.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2eVR2Qm

UBC study finds optimal walking and cycling speeds to reduce air pollution inhalation

(University of British Columbia) Cyclists should be riding at speeds between 12 and 20 kilometers per hour on city roads, while pedestrians should be moving at two to six kilometers per hour to minimize their inhalation of air pollution while still getting the health benefits of exercise, according to new UBC research.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2eUA7Pd

Effect of facial expression on emotional state not replicated in multilab study

(Association for Psychological Science) A coordinated replication effort conducted across 17 labs found no evidence that surreptitiously inducing people to smile or frown affects their emotional state. The findings of the replication project are published as part of a Registered Replication Report (RRR) in Perspectives on Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2dM17TG

Medicaid policies that help smokers quit also save on health care costs

(George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health) Medicaid policies that require patients to go for tobacco-cessation counseling before they get a nicotine patch or some other type of anti- smoking drug actually lead to a reduction in the use of such medication, according to a new study. Medicaid agencies that adopted the policy did so because they thought it would give smokers an edge. But this study suggests that the policy did the opposite -- and actually lowered the use of anti-smoking medication by one-quarter to one-third.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2eJPB8b

Airway-on-a-chip could lead to new treatments for cigarette smoke-induced lung injury

(Cell Press) Researchers have developed an airway-on-a-chip that supports living small-airway-lining cells from normal or diseased human lungs and an instrument that 'breathes' cigarette smoke in and out over these chips. Using this technology, researchers from the Wyss Institute at Harvard University recreated and analyzed the effects of smoking at the molecular, cellular, and tissue level to understand the damage occurring in normal lung and in engineered lung tissues from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

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

The scent of death (video)

(American Chemical Society) Some scientists have an important, if morbid, job: They study the smell of decomposing human bodies. By understanding the chemical makeup of human cadaver smell, as opposed to the smell of other decomposing animals, forensic scientists could improve the training of cadaver dogs and corpse recovery efforts. Find out more about this macabre but meaningful work in the latest Speaking of Chemistry video: https://youtu.be/EffqGKU11qE.

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

Jindal School study examines immigrants' influence on trade

(University of Texas at Dallas) A new study from The University of Texas at Dallas shows that firms are significantly more likely to trade with countries that have large resident populations living near the headquarters.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2dLX3mm

Is more, better? Finding the balance between nutritional supplements and eye health

(University of Utah Health Sciences) In the past decade, ophthalmologists have been prescribing nutritional supplements to be taken daily to prevent or slow vision loss from age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Now, using nutritional supplements for eye health has become more common. But does increasing the recommended dose increase protection? A case report appearing online in JAMA Ophthalmology from the Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah reveals what can happen when a patient takes more of a supplement than their body needs.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2dLW8Co

Alliance for Aging Research approved for a Eugene Washington Engagement Award by PCORI

(Alliance for Aging Research) The Alliance for Aging Research will create a first-ever Senior Patient and Family Caregiver Network to find ways to address the significant under-representation of older adults and their family caregivers in patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) and comparative effectiveness research (CER).

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2dP6Cfn

Concern that radiation may contribute to development of Alzheimer's

(University of Southern Denmark) More humans than ever are exposed to higher levels of ionizing radiation from medical equipment, airplanes, etc. A new study suggests that this kind of radiation may be a confounding factor in the neurodegenerative disease Alzheimer's.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2eQ5nzf

Fruit flies: Food, camera, action!

(JLM&A, SA ) Fruit flies deprived of specific essential nutrients alter their food choices -- and even the way they search for food. A team of neuroscientists, led by researchers from the Champalimaud Foundation in Lisbon, Portugal, 'dissected' these behaviors, a first step towards identifying the brain mechanisms that are behind these changes in feeding habits.

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

Stopped hearts need more research to start: Review shows lack of cardiac arrest studies

(University of Michigan Health System) Hundreds of thousands of times a year in the US, a heart stops suddenly. Only one person in 10 survives a cardiac arrest, but new research shows a huge lack of studies aimed at improving care and survival.

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

Death vs. another hospital stay: Study suggests Medicare should weigh them equally

(University of Michigan Health System) A new analysis suggests that Medicare should focus more on how well hospitals do at actually keeping patients alive during the first 30 days after a hospitalization, in addition to how well they do at keeping patients from being readmitted.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2eJpqi2

The transition from daylight saving time to standard time leads to depressions

(Aarhus University) The number of people diagnosed with depression at psychiatric hospitals increases immediately after the transition from daylight saving time to standard time. This is the conclusion of a recent register-based study from Denmark. The study is based on analysis of 185,419 depression diagnoses registered in The Central Psychiatric Research Register between 1995 and 2012.

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

Rise of the screens: YouTube most popular digital content in Australian classrooms

(Queensland University of Technology) A QUT report has found Australian schools could be more open to the use of YouTube and other social media platforms to embrace new trends in 'edutainment.' Hundreds of teachers, students, industry representatives and content providers were interviewed over a two year period for the report which found YouTube is by far the single most often used resource by time-poor teachers.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2dLxS3i

Home handy but not so stable: Steep rise in ladder-related falls

(Queensland University of Technology) Researchers at QUT have warned about the rising popularity of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) culture after a steep rise in the number of people falling from ladders.The new study into ladder-related falls over a decade has shown a 47 percent increase in the number of people being admitted to hospital.

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

JNeurosci: Highlights from the Oct. 26 issue

(Society for Neuroscience) High levels of uric acid in the blood can accompany obesity, hypertension, and metabolic disorders, and have been linked to cognitive and memory deficits. In a new study in rats, researchers find a diet high in uric acid triggers inflammation in the hippocampus, an area of the brain critical for learning and memory. Blocking a specific protein pathway protects against inflammation in the hippocampus and cognitive dysfunction.

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

Scripps Florida team illuminates molecular player in morphine addiction and rare disease

(Scripps Research Institute) In a remarkable 'two for one' discovery, scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have illuminated a key molecular player in the addictive effects of morphine in animal models.

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

Want to exercise more? Get yourself some competition

(University of Pennsylvania) New research from the Annenberg School for Communication at Penn compared different ways that exercise programs motivate people to hit the gym. It found that competition was by far the most effective motivator.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2eTw58u

Psychopathy increases risk of violence in romantic relationships

(University of British Columbia Okanagan campus) People with higher levels of psychopathic tendencies are more likely to assault their romantic partners. They are also more likely to drink alcohol, a UBC study has found.The study, which was conducted at UBC's Okanagan campus, involved looking at data and police reports involving 700 US civil psychiatric patients in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as well as 870 students at UBC's campus in Kelowna, BC.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2dYRy2l

Have we found all the elements? (video)

(American Chemical Society) Four elements have been added to the periodic table this year, completing the seventh row. However, these new elements are not naturally occurring. Scientists had to create them and overcome a number of challenges to do so. In this week's Reactions video, we look at how elements are made and whether or not finding/creating even more is possible. Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/rwC9BBHkaAI

from EurekAlert! - Archaeology http://ift.tt/2eI8JTV

Facebook updates could help understand -- and potentially treat -- mental health disorders

(University of Cambridge) Our Facebook status updates, 'likes' and even photos could help researchers better understand mental health disorders with the right ethical safeguards, argue researchers from the University of Cambridge, who suggest that social networks may even be used in future to provide support and interventions, particularly among young people.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2eHc3BN

Two Mount Sinai researchers elected to National Academy of Medicine

(The Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine) Alison M. Goate, D.Phil, Professor of Neuroscience, Neurology and Genetic and Genomic Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Lynne D. Richardson, MD, FACEP, Professor of Emergency Medicine and Population Health Science and Policy, have been elected as two of 79 new members to the prestigious National Academy of Medicine (NAM), formerly known as The Institute of Medicine (IOM).

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2fgWp0J

University of Houston receives top honors for diversity

(University of Houston) The University of Houston received three Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) awards from INSIGHT into Diversity Magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. This is the first time an institution has earned three HEED awards in a single year, being presented to the University of Houston, the UH Law Center and the UH School of Nursing and will be featured in the magazine's November 2016 issue.

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Prof: Money can buy happiness but it's costly to bank on that without measuring debt

(Purdue University) Yes, money can lead to happiness, but how much debt one has should also be considered in the money-happiness equation, according to a new a study from Purdue University.

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IU researchers receive $1.8 million NSF grant to advance 'internet of things' security

(Indiana University) Indiana University School of Informatics and Computing researchers have received $1.8 million from the National Science Foundation to ensure that door locks, lightbulbs, cameras and other common household items, which are increasingly connected to the internet, remain secure.

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'Brainprint' researchers get $900K in funding

(Binghamton University) The National Science Foundation has awarded $900,000 in grant funding to researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York to continue investigations into the next-generation of brain biometric technology.The project, "Brain Hacking: Assessing Psychological and Computational Vulnerabilities in Brain-based Biometrics," will investigate security vulnerabilities of brainprint biometrics and particularly evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of brain biometrics.

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Researchers develop system to classify gunshot wounds to the head and similar injuries

(University of Maryland School of Medicine) Every year, more than 32,000 Americans die from gunshot wounds. A significant proportion of these deaths involve head wounds. Despite this massive public health burden, researchers know little about the variables that determine whether a victim of these injuries will live or die. Now, for the first time ever, researchers have developed a system to help answer this question. The system has created a way to better understand the variables involved in survival from these wounds.

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Integrated neighborhoods more common across the US, study finds

(Brown University) In all parts of the United States, the number of neighborhoods that sustain a mix of black, white, Asian and Hispanic residents over time is growing quickly, a new study finds.

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How nanoscience will improve our health and lives in the coming years

(University of California - Los Angeles) Nanoscience research involves molecules 100 times smaller than cancer cells with the potential to profoundly improve the quality of our health and our lives. Now nine prominent nanoscientists look ahead to what we can expect in the coming decade, and conclude that nanoscience is poised to make important contributions in many areas, including health care, electronics, energy, food and water.

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New evidence that politics, not economics, drives inequality

(Ohio State University) One of the biggest surprises about rising income inequality in the United States may be that economic factors aren't the biggest cause, a new study suggests.

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Threatened by diversity

(University of California - Santa Barbara) Psychologist Brenda Major identifies what may be a key factor in many white Americans' support for Donald Trump.

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New ingredient in baby formula helps support immune system, more like breastfed babies

(MediaSource) Levels of five immune markers were nearly identical in breastfed babies and babies fed formula with 2'-FL human milk oligosaccharide.

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Importance of universal sanitation underestimated in efforts to reduce child mortality

(University of East Anglia) The value of sanitation at reducing child mortality in many low income countries has been substantially underestimated according to recent research. A study by Professor Paul Hunter from the University of East Anglia and Dr. Annette Prüss-Ustün from The World Health Organization concludes that vital health benefits of access to sanitation facilities such as latrines will only be seen once a certain level of coverage across a community is achieved.

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How AIDS conquered North America

(University of Arizona) A new technique that allowed researchers to analyze genetic material from serum samples of HIV patients taken before AIDS was known provides a glimpse of unprecedented detail into the beginnings of the AIDS epidemic in North America. The findings may lead to a better understanding of how pathogens move through populations and lead to more effective strategies against pathogens.

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New research reveals accidental making of 'Patient Zero' myth during 1980s AIDS crisis

(University of Cambridge) A combination of historical and genetic research reveals the error and hype that led to the coining of the term 'Patient Zero' and the blaming of one man for the spread of HIV across North America.

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Poland-US Science Award for research on RNA structure

(American Association for the Advancement of Science) World-renowned scientists -- Professor Ryszard Kierzek from the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences in Poznan and Professor Douglas H. Turner from the University of Rochester -- are the winners of the 2016 edition of the Poland-US Science Award. The award is granted jointly by the Foundation for Polish Science, the biggest private institution supporting science in Poland, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the world's largest general scientific association.

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Wayne State awarded $2.28 million from NIH to study buprenorphine

(Wayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research) A team led by Wayne State University School of Medicine researcher Mark Greenwald, Ph.D., will use a four-year, $2,279,723 competitively renewed grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health to explore whether the opioid addiction treatment medication buprenorphine can decrease the magnitude and/or duration of responses to stressors faced by recovering addicts.

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Setting the gold standard

(University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry) ProTraining, a University of Alberta spinoff company that provides mental health education and training to emergency personnel, announced today that it won a coveted Brandon Hall Group Gold Award for Excellence in the Learning Category (Best Advance in Custom Content). The prestigious awards program has been running for more than 20 years, and is often referred to as the 'Academy Awards' of the learning industry.

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UT scientists identify bacterial genes that could lessen severity of malaria

(University of Tennessee at Knoxville) Researchers at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, have identified a set of bacterial genes that may help them find ways to lessen the severity of the disease malaria. Their findings could also aid the research of fellow scientists working in malaria-stricken regions around the world.

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Insilico Medicine to present on Deep Learning Pipelines for Drug Discovery at GTC DC

(InSilico Medicine, Inc.) Insilico Medicine Inc. will present its most recent advances in applying the deep learning techniques to biomarker development and drug discovery at the GPU Technology Conference Washington, D.C.

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School pincipals shape students' values via school climate

(Association for Psychological Science) Over time, students' personal values become more similar to those of their school principal, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Associational for Psychological Science. The findings indicate that principals' values are linked with aspects of school climate which are, in turn, linked with students' own values.

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High resting heart rate and blood pressure linked to later mental health disorders

(University of Helsinki) A high resting heart rate and blood pressure in youth predict an increased susceptibility for anxiety disorders, schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder later in life, reveals an extensive study conducted by the University of Helsinki, Finland, and the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.

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$2.74 million NIH grant to improve asthma management in youth

(Wayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research) A team of researchers led by Richard Slatcher, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Wayne State University, has been awarded $2.74 million from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health for a project that aims to improve asthma management in youth.

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Bitter political climate chills some scientific pursuits

(American Chemical Society) The House of Representatives Science, Space & Technology Committee has been operating in lockstep with the combative political climate this election season. Since last year, the committee chair has issued more than 25 subpoenas to investigate science agencies and others. But rather than bring misdeeds to light, some scientists say the efforts are having a chilling effect, according to an article in Chemical & Engineering News, the weekly news magazine of the American Chemical Society.

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Wayne State awarded $3.2 million NIH grant for schizophrenia research

(Wayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research) Researchers in the Wayne State University School of Medicine's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences will use a new five-year, $3.2 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to explore the underlying mechanisms of impaired learning and memory in schizophrenia from the perspective of brain plasticity, function and network dynamics.

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Elderly Chinese immigrants feel at home in US with living conditions, independence, study finds

(Georgia State University) Having comfortable living conditions and independence from their adult children can help elderly Chinese immigrants find a sense of home and life satisfaction in the United States, but the inability to speak fluent English makes them feel unsettled, according to a research study.

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ECHO Program explores how environment affects kids' health

(Medical University of South Carolina) MUSC and Columbia University have been awarded more than $1.5 million in fiscal year 2016 to help launch a new National Institutes of Health initiative called Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes.

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Common sets of genes disrupted in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression

(Johns Hopkins Medicine) Studying brain tissue from deceased donors, Johns Hopkins scientists have found common groups of genes disrupted among people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression. The commonly affected genes sets, identified with RNA sequencing methods, engage in making proteins, controlling brain cell communications and mounting an immune system response, the researchers say.

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Finding the clues for better autism treatments

(Medical University of South Carolina) New research sheds light on what might be going wrong in the regulation of genes that govern the brain's connectivity, leading to autism and schizophrenia. Identifying the major players that cause brain development disorders creates therapeutic targets that pharmaceutical companies can use.

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