The 'reality' of accent change

(Linguistic Society of America) A new study of how accents change over differing periods of time demonstrates the limited impact of intense social interactions in isolated environments, and surprisingly large differences among people in how susceptible their accents are to change. The study 'The medium-term dynamics of accents on reality television,' by Morgan Sonderegger (McGill University), Max Bane (University of Chicago) and Peter Graff (University of Vienna) will be published in the September 2017 issue of the scholarly journal Language.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2etO7Ua

Nature imagery calms prisoners

(University of Utah) Sweeping shots of majestic landscapes. Glaciers, forests and waterfalls. Research published today shows that these images, shown to people deprived of access to nature, can reduce tension, help defuse anger and make some of the harshest environments, like a solitary confinement cellblock in a maximum-security prison, a little easier to bear.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2etO76C

Study identifies new genetic risk factor for developing autism spectrum disorder

(Oregon Health & Science University) An international team led by researchers at OHSU in Portland, Oregon has applied a new systematic analysis to a cohort of 2,300 families who have a single child affected with autism. The study focused on identifying and characterizing low-lying genetic mutations that may have been missed in previous research, given these mutations are only present in a fraction of the bulk DNA of an individual.

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

New boarding procedures, smaller cabin size may limit infection on planes

(Florida State University) During major epidemics, cramped airplane cabins are fertile ground for the spread of infection, but new research suggests changing routine boarding protocols could be a key to reducing rampant transmission of disease.

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

Study reveals ways collegiate sports venues can achieve 'zero waste'

(University of Missouri-Columbia) Researchers at the University of Missouri recently published a study analyzing waste and recyclables during Mizzou's 2014 home football season. By implementing several recommendations the team developed, such as offering better recycling receptacles and better sorting options for waste, sporting venues could be well on their way to achieving environmental benefits that exceed the standards for 'zero-waste' operations.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2iL0b53

How DACA affects the health of America's children

(Stanford University - Immigration Policy Lab ) When unauthorized immigrants are offered protection from deportation, mental illnesses in their children drop by more than 50 percent.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wVqP1t

Does indoor spraying help prevent dengue?

(PLOS) The prevention of dengue, the most prevalent mosquito-borne virus in the world, relies heavily on controlling mosquito populations, as the currently available dengue vaccine is only partially effective. Indoor spraying -- which involves spraying of insecticides inside houses -- has the potential to be a key part of those prevention efforts, researchers report in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2xATl5e

Low health literacy is associated with preventable emergency department visits

(Society for Academic Emergency Medicine) Low health literacy is a risk factor for potentially preventable emergency department (ED) visits, particularly those that result in hospital admission.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vv7qDY

A new mobile application helps scientists map the sound environment

(CNRS) The NoiseCapture application uses signal processing algorithms to calculate acoustic indicators during the user's trips. These geolocated indicators are then anonymously stored in a database to develop noise maps that reflect reality as closely as possible, with extremely dense connections. These noise maps obtained with the help of smartphones could be used by local governments to implement more targeted plans of action for preserving or improving the quality of urban sound environments.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wqs19G

BCG jab may protect against TB for nearly twice as long as previously thought

(London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine) The world's only licensed tuberculosis (TB) vaccine could offer protection against the disease for nearly twice as long as previously thought, according to new research published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vv2OOl

Eating protein three times a day could make our seniors stronger

(McGill University Health Centre) Loss of muscle is an inevitable consequence of aging that can lead to frailty, falls or mobility problems. Eating enough protein is one way to remedy it, but it would seem that spreading protein equally among the three daily meals could be linked to greater mass and muscle strength in the elderly. These are the findings of a study conducted at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vKIGD8

Wanted: A new way to find pilots for US Navy unmanned aircraft

(Office of Naval Research) The Office of Naval Research is sponsoring the development of new specialized tests to assess the cognitive abilities and personality traits of potential Navy and Marine Corps unmanned aviation systems (UAS) operators. It's called the Selection for UAS Personnel, or SUPer.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wTF4DY

Virus that causes mono may increase risk of MS for multiple races

(American Academy of Neurology) Like whites, Hispanic and black people who have had mononucleosis, commonly known as mono, which is caused by Epstein-Barr virus, may have an increased risk of multiple sclerosis, according to a new study published in the Aug. 30, 2017, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2xO46k2

Understanding perceptions of reputation and identity offers opportunity, study shows

(University of Notre Dame) Research by Brittany Solomon found that, regardless of how people personally view another person, they also are aware of how that person sees themselves, as well as how they are generally perceived by others.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2iIhF1Y

$3.2M NIH award to Wayne State to improve asthma care/outcomes in African American youth

(Wayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research) A research team led by Deborah Ellis, Ph.D., professor of family medicine and public health sciences in Wayne State University's School of Medicine, received a $3.2 million award from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health. The grant will fund a study that will develop interventions to reduce barriers to optimal asthma management and reduce the risk for asthma-related deaths of minority children, with a focus on African American adolescents.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gqYLM1

Sequencing all 24 human chromosomes uncovers rare disorders

(NIH/National Human Genome Research Institute) Non-invasive prenatal screening is one of the great success stories of genomics research. Now, a new NHGRI study has found that extending noninvasive prenatal screening to all 24 human chromosomes can detect genetic disorders that may explain miscarriage and abnormalities in fetal growth. This approach may also reduce false positive results for Down syndrome and other common conditions.

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

Peptide mass fingerprinting can identify whale species based solely on their baleen

(PLOS) Peptide mass fingerprinting accurately identified 10 species of whales from their baleen alone, according to a study published Aug. 30, 2017, in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Caroline Solazzo from Smithsonian Institution, US, and colleagues.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2x62GEn

Human settlement in the Americas may have occurred in the late Pleistocene

(PLOS) Analysis of a skeleton found in the Chan Hol cave near Tulum, Mexico, suggests human settlement in the Americas occurred in the late Pleistocene era, according to a study published Aug. 30, 2017, in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Wolfgang Stinnesbeck from Universität Heidelberg, Germany, and colleagues.

from EurekAlert! - Archaeology http://ift.tt/2iH3Pww

A magic formula to predict attraction is more elusive than ever

(University of Utah) Dating websites often claim attraction between two people can be predicted from the right combination of traits and preferences, but a new study casts doubt on that assertion.The study, which used speed dating data, found a computer could predict who is desirable and how much someone would desire others -- who's hot and who's not -- but it could not unravel the mystery of unique desire for a specific person.

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

Monkeys with Parkinson's disease benefit from human stem cells

(Center for iPS Cell Research and Application - Kyoto University) A team of Japanese neurosurgeons at the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Japan, report two new strategies to improve outcomes of iPS cell-based therapies for Parkinson's disease in monkey brains. The findings are a key step for patient recruitment of the first iPS cell-based therapy to treat neurodegenerative diseases.

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

Millennials prefer healthy habits, less likely to choose opioids to manage pain

(American Society of Anesthesiologists) Often spending their days hunched over phones, tablets or computers and their free time at spin class or playing sports, millennials are the next generation poised to experience chronic pain. Even at their young age, millennials say acute and chronic pain are already interfering with their quality of life.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vKsSA2

U study provides new insight toward reducing racial bias in courtroom

(University of Minnesota) The study, titled 'Minority Mens Rea' and published in the Hastings Law Journal, offers positive news for a criminal justice system that has become keenly aware of the need for improved responses to race biases. Ultimately, Shen hopes further research will help the legal system better understand how implicit racial biases lead, or don't lead, to unjust outcomes.

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

Two distinct brain regions have independent influence on decision-making

(The Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine) Mount Sinai research finds that when making decisions, monkeys use different brain areas to weigh value and availability.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vK71Zx

Hidden deep in the brain, a map that guides animals' movements

(The Zuckerman Institute at Columbia University) New research has revealed that deep in the brain, in a structure called striatum, all possible movements that an animal can do are represented in a map of neural activity. If we think of neural activity as the coordinates of this map, then similar movements have similar coordinates, being represented closer in the map, while actions that are more different have more distant coordinates and are further away.

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

When making decisions, monkeys use different brain areas to weigh value and availability

(Cell Press) Seventeenth-century mathematician Blaise Pascal first introduced the idea of expected value, which is reached by multiplying the value of something (how much it's wanted or needed) with the probability that we might be able to obtain it. Now some very 21st century research is showing for the first time in monkeys which parts of the brain are involved in the two-pronged decision-making process that determines this expected value. The study appears in Neuron.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vK70or

A decline in navigational skills could predict neurodegenerative disease

(Cell Press) Changes in how humans map their surroundings and construct and follow directions as they age have been understudied compared to effects on memory and learning. However, age-related declines in navigational ability are independent of those more well-known cognitive downturns, and could form the basis for tools for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers discuss this possibility in a review published August 30 in the journal Neuron.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vs4NmC

Onward to open science

(McGill University) A new partnership between The Neuro and F1000 will create a publishing platform for researchers that will speed the progress of neuroscience discovery. The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital of McGill University (The Neuro) is partnering with F1000, a provider of support services for researchers, institutes and funders, to create a new open research publishing platform called MNI Open Research.

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

New clue may reveal the fate of famous French explorer

(Australian National University) An anthropologist at The Australian National University (ANU) may have stumbled across a clue to resolving one of the most enduring mysteries of Pacific history - the fate of famous French navigator, Jean François de Galaup, Comte de La Pérouse who disappeared in 1788.

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

Psychotic experiences put kids at higher suicide risk

(University of Queensland) Otherwise healthy people who experience hallucinations or delusions are more likely to have later suicidal thoughts or attempts, an international study has found.The University of Queensland-led research found that having a psychotic experience doubled the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.UQ Queensland Brain Institute researcher Professor John McGrath said children were at even greater risk.

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

New clue may reveal the fate of famous French explorer

(Australian National University) An anthropologist at The Australian National University (ANU) may have stumbled across a clue to resolving one of the most enduring mysteries of Pacific history - the fate of famous French navigator, Jean François de Galaup, Comte de La Pérouse who disappeared in 1788.

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

Research on the meaning of ancient geometric earthworks in southwestern Amazonia

(University of Helsinki) Researchers examine pre-colonial geometric earthworks in the southwestern Amazonia from the point of view of indigenous peoples and archaeology. The study shows that the earthworks were once important ritual communication spaces.

from EurekAlert! - Archaeology http://ift.tt/2x4Y3uq

When it comes to looking for jobs, it's not how many you know, but how well you know them

(Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences) CATONSVILLE, MD, August 30, 2017 - While online networking sites enable individuals to increase their professional connections, to what extent do these ties actually lead to job opportunities? A new study in the INFORMS journal Management Science finds that, despite the ability to significantly increase the number of professional connections and identify more job leads with limited effort on these sites, unless the connection is a strong one, they typically will not lead to job offers.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2iIo2lF

Research on the meaning of ancient geometric earthworks in southwestern Amazonia

(University of Helsinki) Researchers examine pre-colonial geometric earthworks in the southwestern Amazonia from the point of view of indigenous peoples and archaeology. The study shows that the earthworks were once important ritual communication spaces.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2x4Y3uq

Fast-forward aging due to DNA damage

(University of Cologne) In the course of time the DNA accumulates more and more damage -- aging is one of the results. The manifold effects of DNA damage have now been shown in unprecedented complexity. The study by scientists led by Björn Schumacher at the Cluster of Excellence CECAD has now been published in the journal Cell Reports.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2x5oOic

A slam dunk for women head coaches -- so drop the bias

(Springer) Having a man in charge of a US female basketball league team does not necessarily translate into more on court success. This is the conclusion of Lindsey Darvin of the University of Florida, lead author of a study in Springer's journal Sex Roles. Its findings challenge the assumption that men are better leaders, and therefore as coaches will get better results from individual players.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2x4O6NJ

Is changing languages effortful for bilingual speakers? Depends on the situation

(New York University) Research on the neurobiology of bilingualism has suggested that switching languages is inherently effortful, requiring executive control to manage cognitive functions, but a new study shows this is only the case when speakers are prompted, or forced, to do so.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vF0mAX

Stroke patient improvement with a brain-computer interface

(University of Adelaide) Australian researchers have shown that it is possible for stroke patients to improve motor function using special training involving connecting brain signals with a computer.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2xxF9u4

Higher levels of cooperation for provision than for maintenance of public goods

(University of Cologne) A research team was able to show that people are less willing to cooperate to maintain public goods than to provide new ones. The investigators took a closer look at the paradigm of reciprocity: I will only cooperate if others do so as well. The results were published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour.

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

US investors shun Quebec firms

(University of British Columbia) A new study led by the UBC Sauder School of Business has found significant US institutional investor bias against firms located in Quebec relative to firms located in the rest of Canada due to language differences.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2x3RFn0

Largest study to date evaluates occupational health risks to hardmetal workers

(University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences) Workers in the hardmetal industry are not at increased risk for lung cancer or any of 63 other potential causes of death, concluded the largest and most definitive study on this population to date. The study of more than 32,000 workers in five countries was performed after smaller French and Swedish studies indicated that tungsten carbide with a cobalt binder -- the primary ingredients in hardmetal -- may be linked to an increased risk of lung cancer.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2xxss2q

Protein turnover could be clue to living longer

(Salk Institute) Overactive protein synthesis found in premature aging disease may also play role in normal aging.

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

Dog walkers motivated by happiness, not health

(University of Liverpool) It appears to be a case of 'do what makes you happy' for people who regularly walk their dogs. According to new University of Liverpool research, owners are motivated to go dog walking because it makes them feel happy, not because of other health and social benefits.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2xMag42

Shared custody equals less stress for children

(Stockholm University) Children who live full time with one parent are more likely to feel stressed than children in shared custody situations. The benefit holds regardless of the level of conflict between the parents or between parent and child. These are the results of a new study from Stockholm University's Demography Unit.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wI3akB

Cosmetic surgery may help patients quit smoking

(Wolters Kluwer Health) If you're a smoker considering cosmetic surgery, your plastic surgeon will likely require you to stop smoking for at least two weeks before your procedure. A long-term follow-up study finds that many patients receiving these instructions will quit smoking, or at least smoke less, in the years after cosmetic surgery, reports the September issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wm6AXn

Children of unintended pregnancies may experience depressive symptoms in early adulthood

(University at Buffalo) Children from unintended pregnancies tend to experience more depressive symptoms in early adulthood than children from intended pregnancies, however there's little evidence of a causal relationship.Jessica Su, an assistant professor in UB's Department of Sociology, says the association between fertility intentions and depressive symptoms is more likely due to the mother's socioeconomic background and the accompanying lack of access to resources and services.

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

Where's the line? Managing extreme speech on social media

(University of Missouri-Columbia) A new study from the University of Missouri School of Journalism shows that while people tend to dislike extreme speech on social media, there is less support for outright censorship. Instead, people believe sites need to do a better job promoting healthy discourse online.

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

Obesity prevention guidelines are not followed for preschool children

(Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center) In a study of nearly 400 preschool children, only one child adhered to obesity prevention guidelines over the course of a single day at child care and at home.

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

Exclusion from school can trigger long-term psychiatric illness

(University of Exeter) Excluding children from school may lead to long-term psychiatric problems and psychological distress, a study of thousands of children has shown.

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

Clamping down on causality by probing laser cavities

(The Optical Society) By monitoring the optical response of an externally probed laser cavity before and after gain clamping, a University of Central Florida and Yale collaboration reveals the underlying mechanisms driving the cavity's responses.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wf6x1b

Pinpointing the origins of autism

(McGill University) The origins of autism remain mysterious. What areas of the brain are involved, and when do the first signs appear? New findings published in Biological Psychiatry brings us closer to understanding the pathology of autism, and the point at which it begins to take shape in the human brain. Such knowledge will allow earlier interventions in the future and better outcomes for autistic children.

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

New research strengthens link between mental health and retirement savings

(Medica Research Institute) The question of how mental health status affects decisions regarding retirement savings is becoming a pressing issue in the United States. Key factors contributing to this issue include the tenuous state of the Social Security system, greater use of defined-contribution pension plans by employers, longer lifespans, and the rise of depression and other mental health issues in older Americans.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vG7ooe

Lively tunes boost sales in crowded stores

(Journal of Retailing at New York University) If a store is crowded, people tend to buy more if the sound system is playing a fast-paced song rather than a ballad. That's what a team of researchers found in a field experiment across a chain of grocery convenience stores in Northern Europe.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2voF9iA

MouseAge.Org: Artificial intelligence for photographic biomarkers in mice

(InSilico Medicine, Inc.) The scientists from Insilico Medicine collaborates with scientists from Harvard, Oxford, Youth Laboratories, the Biogerontology Research Foundation, and other institutions to enable scientists worldwide to derive more information from rodent studies, develop novel biomarkers of aging and various diseases in mice, develop tools for cross-species analysis, and provide correlations between health and appearance.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2voHN7J

Magnetic stimulation of the brain improved awareness of subject's own cognitive abilities

(Aalto University) Researchers at Aalto University and the University of Helsinki have succeeded for the first time ever in affecting metacognition of a tactile working memory task by combining neural pathway imaging and magnetic stimulation of the brain.Understanding brain function might help in the development of new treatments for neuropsychiatric illnesses in the future.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2weF9QM

Tears in tiny bone cells called osteocytes appear an important step to better bones

(Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University) The force gravity and physical activity put on our bones causes tiny tears in the membranes of the tiny cells that enable us to make or break down bone, scientists say.While that may sound bad, it's actually a key piece of how the force we put on our bones helps keep them strong, they report in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wficx1

How parents, siblings can become teachers for special needs children

(Michigan State University) Parents and siblings of children with limited speech who took an innovative training program created by a Michigan State University scholar significantly improved their ability to communicate with the special needs youth.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2xu9ppr

Federal preemption of taxes on state and local sugar-sweetened beverages is not warranted

(Tufts University, Health Sciences Campus) Federal and state government can alter or hinder state and local activity through a legal mechanism called preemption -- when a higher level of government blocks the action of a lower level of government. A new study evaluates whether it could it be used to block taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2xu4cOl

In the face of climate change can our engineers keep the trains running on time?

(Frontiers) An unprecedented study titled, 'Lifecycle Assessments of Railway Bridge Transitions Exposed to Extreme Events,' published in Frontiers in Built Environment, benchmarks the costs and carbon emissions for the life cycle of eight mitigation measures for maintaining the railroad bridges in the face of climate change and reviews these methods for their effectiveness in three types of extreme environmental conditions.

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

30th ECNP Congress for Applied and Translational Neuroscience -- Paris

(European College of Neuropsychopharmacology) Europe's largest meeting in applied and translational neuroscience, the 30th ECNP Congress of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) will take place at the Paris Conference Centre, Paris from Sept. 2-5, 2017. Between 4,000 and 6,000 psychiatrists, neuroscientists, neurologists and psychologists are expected to attend the Paris congress.

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

A new method to estimate total organic carbon content

(Bentham Science Publishers) One key property to evaluate the prospects of any shale oil or gas is its total organic carbon (TOC) richness. This study investigates different TOC estimation techniques and validates the reliability of each, aiming to provide a best estimation approach for local and global applications.

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

Inattentive kids show worse grades in later life

(Frontiers) Researchers found that inattentiveness in childhood was linked to worse academic performance up to 10 years later in children with and without ADHD, even when they accounted for the children's intellectual ability. The results highlight the long-term effects that childhood inattention can have on academic performance, and suggest that parents and teachers should address inattentiveness in childhood.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wPCw9w

Cartilage degeneration algorithm predicts progression of osteoarthritis

(University of Eastern Finland) A novel cartilage degeneration algorithm can predict the progression of osteoarthritis in individual patients, according to new research from the University of Eastern Finland. The new algorithm could greatly facilitate clinical decision-making in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2xJx9Fj

Non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma treatment

(Bentham Science Publishers) India is a second largest producer of leather, and being so, leather production and dyeing significantly contribute to pollution of water resources in India. Consistent dyeing of leather is difficult due to the unique nature of the raw material (matrix of collagen fibers), thus leather dyeing and finishing involves numerous wet chemical treatments having huge environmental impacts.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wPkdS4

Doping in sports: Official tests fail to pick up majority of cases

(Springer) Doping is remarkably widespread among elite athletes, and remains largely unchecked despite the use of sophisticated biological testing methods. This is according to Rolf Ulrich of the University of Tübingen in Germany and Harrison G. Pope of Harvard Medical School in the US who are lead authors of a study in Springer's journal Sports Medicine.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2xJwy6G

NSF grant will study Kansans' inequality of broadband access

(University of Kansas) University of Kansas researchers have received a $300,000 National Science Foundation grant to study digital inequalities in Kansas and begin designing a set of cybersecurity and privacy tools to protect public broadband users.

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

Doping in sports: Official tests fail to pick up majority of cases

(McLean Hospital) A new scientific study has found that doping is far more common in professional sport than the rates suggested by blood and urine tests of the athletes.

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

New technique to aid IVF embryo selection

(University of Adelaide) Australian researchers have successfully developed an advanced new imaging technique, which can help assess the quality of early-stage embryos.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wf5azA

Poor sleep is associated with ischemic heart disease and stroke

(European Society of Cardiology) Poor sleep is associated with ischemic heart disease and stroke, according to research presented today at ESC Congress. The observational study in nearly 13,000 people revealed different patterns of sleep disturbance between the two conditions, with ischemic heart disease being linked to shorter sleep and brief moments of waking up.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2x0gkcr

Preventing sudden death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: ESC guidelines (HCM-EVIDENCE)

(European Society of Cardiology) A large study conducted across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia has validated the ESC recommendations for predicting and preventing sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

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

Rethinking dual antiplatelet guidelines in acute coronary syndrome? (CHANGE-DAPT)

(European Society of Cardiology) New research presented at ESC Congress today1 suggests that for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients who require percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), treatment according to contemporary guidelines for dual anti-platelet therapy (DAPT) could be less preferable than sticking to older guidelines.

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

Asian dust and acute myocardial infarction: Prediction and prevention

(European Society of Cardiology) When Asian dust clouds blow in to Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture, hospitals in the region handle a surge of acute myocardial infarctions (AMI) in the following 24 hours, and now a new prediction tool could help pinpoint which patients are at greatest risk.

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

Reassessing the benefits of plant-based eating (PURE)

(European Society of Cardiology) A large dietary study from 18 countries, across seven geographic regions has found that even relatively moderate intake of fruit, vegetables and legumes such as beans and lentils may lower a person's risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death.

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

Revisiting dietary fat guidelines? (PURE)

(European Society of Cardiology) Researchers here at ESC Congress are calling for a reconsideration of global dietary guidelines in light of new data presented today on fat intake and cardiovascular risk and mortality.

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

No advantage of ambulance over hospital anti-clot therapy (SCAAR)

(European Society of Cardiology) In contrast to European and American guidelines that recommend pre-hospital antiplatelet therapy for heart attack patients suffering from ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), a new study presented at ESC Congress suggests this practice has no advantage over waiting for in-hospital treatment.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2xtP4AQ

Ablation of atrial fibrillation improves quality of life more than drugs (CAPTAF)

(European Society of Cardiology) Ablation of atrial fibrillation improves quality of life more than drugs, even though the reduction in atrial fibrillation burden did not differ significantly between treatments, according to late-breaking results from the CAPTAF trial presented today in a Hot Line Session at ESC Congress.

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

Japanese study questions benefit of treat-to-target statin therapy (EMPATHY)

(European Society of Cardiology) A study in Japanese patients with diabetic retinopathy has questioned the benefit of treat-to-target intensive versus standard statin therapy. The late-breaking results from the EMPATHY trial are presented today in a Hot Line LBCT Session at ESC Congress.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2xIf8r8

Anacetrapib reduces risk of serious cardiovascular events in high risk patients (REVEAL)

(European Society of Cardiology) Anacetrapib, an inhibitor of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity, lowers the risk of heart attack and related cardiovascular complications in patients receiving intensive statin treatment, according to late-breaking results from the REVEAL trial presented today in a Hot Line Session at ESC Congress and published in the NEJM.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wOxx95

Electrocardiogram recording by patients boosts atrial fibrillation diagnosis (REHEARSE-AF)

(European Society of Cardiology) Electrocardiogram (ECG) recording by patients with remote analysis by professionals identifies more atrial fibrillation (AF) than routine care, according to late-breaking results from a randomised trial presented today in a Hot Line -- LBCT Session at ESC Congress1 and published in Circulation. The approach has the potential to reduce AF-related strokes by starting preventative treatment earlier.

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

Gunnerus Prize in Sustainability awarded to Carl Folke

(Norwegian University of Science and Technology) The Swedish researcher Carl Folke has been at the forefront of sustainable science research. As early as the 1980s, he conducted one of the first analyses of ecosystems that considered the value of vital functions and services in a Swedish wetland, and the role of natural capital in enabling people to live well. Now his work is being recognized with a prize worth NOK 1 million.

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

Dark chocolate with olive oil associated with improved cardiovascular risk profile

(European Society of Cardiology) Dark chocolate enriched with extra virgin olive oil is associated with an improved cardiovascular risk profile, according to research presented today at ESC Congress.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wYZv1q

Self-identifying as disabled and developing pride in disability aid overall well-being

(Oregon State University) Experiencing stigma, the severity of a disability and a person's age and income level help determine whether someone with an impairment considers themselves to be a person with a disability, and experiencing stigma predicts whether those individuals will ultimately develop disability pride, new research from Oregon State University shows.

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

Study finds romance and affection top most popular sexual behaviors

(Indiana University) Researchers at Indiana University have published a new US nationally representative study of sexual behavior, the first of its kind to capture a wide range of diverse sexual behaviors not previously examined in the general population.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wcX0rz

Ancient Cahokia Future Visions Conference

(Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois ) The Illinois State Archaeological Survey will host the Ancient Cahokia Future Visions Conference April 27, 2018. The conference brings together leading archaeologists and decision makers to discuss Cahokia's past and future. This conference is sponsored by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Illinois and celebrates 150 years of research. Ancient Cahokia Future Visions Conference is free to attend but registration is required.

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

Study identifies methods for preventing overcrowding in emergency rooms

(Oregon Health & Science University) A new study identifies four key strategies to reduce overcrowding in emergency rooms. The study concludes that engaged executive leadership can alleviate the problem when combined with a data-driven approach and coordination across the hospital from housekeepers to the CEO. Crowding in emergency rooms has been associated with decreased patient satisfaction and even death.

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

GW researcher awarded $2 million to study natural immune response to HIV

(George Washington University) GW researcher received an almost $2 million grant to study the body's natural defenses against HIV in order to drive development of better vaccines and therapies.

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

LSUHealthNO research award to improve heart attack recovery

(Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center) LSU Health New Orleans will receive $735,000 over two years to study the effectiveness of the first patented drug-eluting guidewire in preventing a complication that can occur following treatment of heart attacks with angioplasty.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2iD1mDB

Clinical trial uses nicotine patches to treat chronic lung disease

(MediaSource) Nicotine patches were created to help smokers quit, but researchers are conducting a study to see if they can also help patients who suffer from a chronic lung disease. Sarcoidosis is a growth of inflammatory cells, most likely triggered by inhaling pesticides or other toxic materials. If the condition doesn't go away on its own, it can cause severe lung damage and even death.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2xGeY3w

Using artificial intelligence to understand the human brain and mind

(The Zuckerman Institute at Columbia University) On Wednesday, Sept. 6, at 9 a.m., pioneers in cognitive science, neuroscience and machine learning will come together at Columbia University to address a fundamental question: how can artificial intelligence help us understand the brain's most complex abilities?

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

'Marrying up' is now easier for men, improves their economic well-being, study finds

(University of Kansas) As the number of highly educated women has increased in recent decades, the chances of 'marrying up' have increased significantly for men and decreased for women, according to a new study led by a University of Kansas sociologist.

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

Brain changes linked to physical, mental health in functional neurological disorder

(Massachusetts General Hospital) An imaging study by Massachusetts General Hospital investigators has identified differences in key brain structures of individuals whose physical or mental health has been most seriously impaired by a common but poorly understood condition called functional neurological disorder, sometimes called conversion disorder.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2xGz9y6

Study finds the burdens of spousal caregiving alleviated by appreciation

(University at Buffalo) The fact that spouses often become caregivers for their ailing partners is quite common in American life -- and few roles are more stressful. But Michael Poulin, a UB psychologist, is part of a research team that has published a study suggesting that spending time attempting to provide help can be beneficial for a caregiver's well-being, but only under certain circumstances.

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

Chronic lack of sleep increases risk-seeking

(University of Zurich) Sleepiness, reduced concentration and performance -- more and more people are suffering from the consequences of a chronic lack of sleep. Researchers at the University of Zurich have now demonstrated a further consequence: the people affected are subject to more intensive risk-seeking behavior without even noticing. The scientists advocate for sufficient sleep.

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

Is telomere length associated with the cognitive response to a lifestyle intervention?

(IOS Press) A new study from the FINGER trial team shows that participants with shorter leukocyte telomere length had more pronounced benefits on cognition following the multidomain lifestyle intervention.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vCCnS6

Atrial fibrillation and blood pressure: More than just a number (AFFIRM)

(European Society of Cardiology) New research presented at ESC Congress today shows, for the first time, that blood pressure control is pivotal in reducing major bleeding and stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vllGz5

Anti-aldosterones save lives in STEMI heart attack patients: ALBATROSS, REMINDER

(European Society of Cardiology) Certain heart attack patients who have ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are significantly more likely to survive if they are treated immediately with anti-aldosterone-type drugs in addition to standard therapy, according to new research presented at ESC Congress today.

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

NIPPON follow-up: Shorter dual antiplatelet therapy stands the test of time (DAPT)

(European Society of Cardiology) Three year follow-up of patients who received dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after placement of a drug-eluting stent (DES) shows that a short course of the therapy continues to be as beneficial as a longer course.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vl7wxS

New analysis examines how low cholesterol can safely go (FOURIER)

(European Society of Cardiology) Very aggressive reduction of LDL-cholesterol to ultra-low levels was associated with progressively fewer cardiovascular events and appears to pose no safety concerns in patients with stable atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease over 2.2 years of follow-up, according to a new analysis of the FOURIER trial.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vCF9H1

PATHWAY-2 uncovers main cause of drug-resistant hypertension, finds old drugs work best

(European Society of Cardiology) Salt retention is the main culprit behind drug-resistant hypertension (RHTN), with older diuretic medications being the most effective treatment, according to new results from the PATHWAY-2 study.

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

SPRINT post-hoc analysis: Food for thought on defining the ideal blood pressure target

(European Society of Cardiology) Adding to the debate on optimal blood pressure control, new findings presented at ESC Congress today suggest there may be variations in the ideal target depending on baseline pressure and overall cardiovascular risk.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vD0uQB

Sildenafil should be avoided in valve disease with residual pulmonary hypertension

(European Society of Cardiology) Sildenafil should not be used to treat residual hypertension in patients with valvular heart disease, according to late-breaking results from the SIOVAC trial presented today in a Hot Line LBCT Session at ESC Congress. The off-label use of the drug led to worse clinical outcomes including a doubled risk of hospitalization compared to placebo.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vlruJ7

Bag-mask ventilation fails to improve on endotracheal intubation in cardiac arrest (CAAM)

(European Society of Cardiology) Bag-mask ventilation fails to improve on endotracheal intubation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients, according to late-breaking results from the CAAM trial presented today in a Hot Line LBCT Session at ESC Congress.

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

Ibuprofen associated with blood pressure rise in arthritis patients at cardiovascular risk

(European Society of Cardiology) Ibuprofen is associated with increased blood pressure and hypertension compared to celecoxib in patients with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis and increased risk of cardiovascular disease, according to late-breaking results from the PRECISION-ABPM study presented today in a Hot Line Session at ESC Congress and published in EHJ.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vkO8kF

Oxygen therapy does not improve survival (DETO2X-AMI)

(European Society of Cardiology) Oxygen therapy does not improve survival in patients with heart attack symptoms, according to late-breaking research presented today in a Hot Line LBCT Session at ESC Congress and published in the NEJM.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vD4Oza

Closure of left atrial appendage during heart surgery protects the brain (LAACS)

(European Society of Cardiology) Closure of the left atrial appendage during heart surgery protects the brain, according to late-breaking research presented today in a Hot Line LBCT Session at ESC Congress.1 The results suggest that closure should be routinely added to open heart surgery.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vl82vZ

Apixaban lowers stroke risk in AF patients undergoing cardioversion (EMANATE)

(European Society of Cardiology) Apixaban lowers the risk of stroke compared to warfarin in anticoagulation-naïve patients with atrial fibrillation scheduled for elective cardioversion, according to late-breaking results from the EMANATE trial presented today in a Hot Line LBCT Session at ESC Congress. Rates of bleeding were similar between the two groups.

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

Education and feedback improve use of stroke prevention drugs in AF (IMPACT-AF)

(European Society of Cardiology) Education of healthcare providers and patients with atrial fibrillation has led to a 9 percent absolute increase in the use of anticoagulation therapies to reduce stroke, according to late-breaking results from the IMPACT-AF trial presented today in a Hot Line LBCT Session at ESC Congress1 and published in the Lancet.

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

Inclisiran lowers 'bad' cholesterol for up to 1 year (ORION 1)

(European Society of Cardiology) Inclisiran lowers low-density lipoprotein (LDL; 'bad') cholesterol for up to one year in patients with high cardiovascular risk and elevated LDL cholesterol, according to late-breaking results from the ORION 1 trial presented today in a Hot Line LBCT Session at ESC Congress.

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

Study reveals clinical benefit of LDL cholesterol lowering depends on how it is lowered

(European Society of Cardiology) The benefit of lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol depends on how it is lowered, according to late-breaking results from a naturally randomised genetic trial presented today in a Hot Line -- LBCT Session at ESC Congress1 and published in JAMA.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vl96Qi

Renal denervation lowers blood pressure in hypertensive patients

(European Society of Cardiology) Renal denervation lowers blood pressure in hypertensive patients not taking medication, according to late-breaking results from the SPYRAL HTN-OFF MED study presented today in a Hot Line LBCT Session at ESC Congress and published in the Lancet.

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

Screening for vascular disease saves one life for every 169 patients assessed (VIVA)

(European Society of Cardiology) A novel screening program for vascular disease saves one life for every 169 men assessed, according to late-breaking results from the VIVA trial presented today in a Hot Line LBCT Session at ESC Congress and published in the Lancet. The combined screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm, peripheral artery disease, and hypertension gained more living years for lower costs than European cancer screening programs.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vkYd0Q

Drug cuts cardiovascular disease and lung cancer risk by reducing inflammation (CANTOS)

(European Society of Cardiology) The IL-1β inhibitor canakinumab lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease and lung cancer risk by reducing inflammation, according to late-breaking results from the CANTOS trial presented today in a Hot Line -- LBT Session at ESC Congress1 and published in the NEJM.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vDylc4

Catheter ablation improves outcomes in patients with heart failure and AF (CASTLE-A)

(European Society of Cardiology) Catheter ablation improves outcomes for patients with left ventricular dysfunction and atrial fibrillation, according to late-breaking results from the CASTLE-AF trial presented today in a Hot Line -- LBCT Session at ESC Congress.1 Patients who received catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation had lower mortality and less hospitalisation for worsening heart failure compared to those receiving conventional drug treatment.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vkstt7

Rivaroxaban plus aspirin improves outcomes in stable cardiovascular disease (COMPASS)

(European Society of Cardiology) Rivaroxaban plus aspirin improves survival and reduces stroke and heart attack in patients with stable coronary or peripheral artery disease, according to late-breaking results from the COMPASS trial presented today in a Hot Line - LBCT Session at ESC Congress1 and published in the NEJM.

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

Risk factor driven upstream AF therapy improves sinus rhythm (RACE 3)

(European Society of Cardiology) Risk factor driven upstream rhythm control is effective, feasible and safe in improving maintenance of sinus rhythm in patients with early short lasting atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure, according to late-breaking results from the RACE 3 trial presented today in a Hot Line - LBCT Session at ESC Congress.1 The novel therapy included meticulous treatment of risk factors and change of lifestyle and was superior to conventional guideline recommended rhythm control.

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

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation safe and effective in nonagenarians

(European Society of Cardiology) Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is safe and effective in nonagenarians, according to research presented at ESC Congress today.1 The observational study found that nonagenarians who underwent TAVI had worse short-term outcomes but similar one-year outcomes as patients younger than 90 years.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2iBG8Ga

PCSK9 inhibition could ameliorate cardiovascular disease by immune mechanisms

(European Society of Cardiology) PCSK9 inhibition could ameliorate atherosclerosis and thus cardiovascular disease by immune mechanisms that are unrelated to lowering of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, according to research presented today at ESC Congress.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2gj0i6Y

Married patients with heart disease have better survival rates

(European Society of Cardiology) Marriage is a vital factor affecting the survival of patients who have had a heart attack, as well as the survival of patients with the most important risk factors, according to research presented today at ESC Congress.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2iCa4So

US opioid epidemic reaches new level of crisis in overdoses, hospitalizations and cost

(American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev) 'We found a 34 percent increase in overdose-related ICU admissions while ICU opioid deaths nearly doubled during that same period,' according to Dr. Lena Novack, Ph.D., a lecturer in BGU's School of Public Health. The mortality rates of these patients climbed at roughly the same rate, on average, with a steeper rise in deaths of patients admitted to the ICU for overdose after 2012.

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

Study suggests statins associated with lower rates of breast cancer and mortality

(European Society of Cardiology) A 14 year study in more than one million people has found that women with high cholesterol have significantly lower rates of breast cancer and improved mortality. The research, presented today at ESC Congress, suggests that statins are associated with lower rates of breast cancer and subsequent mortality.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2xqi0JE

16-year study suggests air temperature is external trigger for heart attack

(European Society of Cardiology) A 16-year study in more than 280,000 patients has suggested that air temperature is an external trigger for heart attack. The findings are presented today at ESC Congress.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2xq3Et9

Study: After Hurricane Katrina, personal debt fell for those worst hit -- but at a cost

(Case Western Reserve University) After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans a dozen years ago, there was a sharp and immediate drop in personal debt among residents living in city's most flooded blocks, according to a new Case Western Reserve University study.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2viYl10

80-year-olds as street-savvy as 18-year-olds

(University of Portsmouth) Our gut instinct about whether a stranger poses a threat is as good when we're 80 as when we're 18, according to new research. Older people are as good as young adults at knowing when someone is potentially aggressive, and being streetwise appears to be a skill honed in childhood but not fully reliable until adulthood.

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

Shedding consistent pounds each week linked to long-term weight loss

(Drexel University) Those whose weights fluctuated the most during the first few weeks of a weight loss program had poorer weight loss outcomes one and two years later, compared to the men and women who lost a consistent number of pounds each week.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vjGG9u

Maternal suicide in pre-and postnatal periods in Ontario

(Canadian Medical Association Journal) One of every 19 deaths in pregnant and new mothers in Ontario is due to suicide, highlighting the need for stronger mental health supports during and after pregnancy, according to a new study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vk1m11

Study confirms safety of rapid algorithm to rule-out and rule-in myocardial infarction

(European Society of Cardiology) The safety and efficacy of a rapid algorithm to rule-out and rule-in myocardial infarction has been confirmed in a study presented at ESC Congress today.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wSQ17B

PCSK9 is a co-activator of platelet function beyond its role in cholesterol homeostasis

(European Society of Cardiology) PCSK9 is a co-activator of platelet function beyond its role in cholesterol homeostasis, according to research presented at ESC Congress today. The findings suggest that PCSK9 inhibitors, a new class of cholesterol-lowering treatments, may also reduce thrombosis by interfering with platelet activation.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vt4x2o

Automatic external defibrillators save lives in amateur sports and fitness centers

(European Society of Cardiology) Automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) save lives in amateur sports and fitness centers, according to research presented at ESC Congress today. The 18-year study found that survival from cardiac arrest reached 93 percent in centers equipped with an AED.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2xD9rL4

Higher coffee consumption associated with lower risk of death

(European Society of Cardiology) Higher coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of death, according to research presented today at ESC Congress.1 The observational study in nearly 20 000 participants suggests that coffee can be part of a healthy diet in healthy people.

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

High salt intake associated with doubled risk of heart failure

(European Society of Cardiology) High salt intake is associated with a doubled risk of heart failure, according to a 12-year study in more than 4 000 people presented today at ESC Congress.

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

Gender gap in death from heart attack reduces particularly in younger women

(European Society of Cardiology) The gender gap in death from heart attack has reduced over the past two decades particularly in younger women, according to research presented today at ESC Congress.1 The study in over 50 000 patients found that overall in-hospital mortality for heart attack patients was halved during the 20 year period.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2xBB4nT

Underweight associated with highest mortality and costs after cardiac catheterisation

(European Society of Cardiology) Being underweight, and not overweight, has the highest mortality, cost, length of stay, and readmission rate for those undergoing cardiac catheterisation, according to an analysis of more than one million patients presented at ESC Congress today.

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

Women less likely to receive recommended statin doses to prevent cardiovascular events

(European Society of Cardiology) Women at high risk of cardiovascular events are less likely to receive recommended statin doses for secondary prevention, according to results from the DYSIS study presented today at ESC Congress.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2geKK40

ESC Guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral arterial diseases published today

(European Society of Cardiology) European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Peripheral Arterial Diseases, developed in collaboration with the European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS), are published online today in European Heart Journal,1 European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, and the ESC website.

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

ESC focused update on dual antiplatelet therapy in coronary artery disease published today

(European Society of Cardiology) The first ESC Focused Update on Dual Antiplatelet Therapy in Coronary Artery Disease is published online today in European Heart Journal,1 and on the ESC website.2 The document was developed in collaboration with the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS).

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

ESC Guidelines on ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction published today

(European Society of Cardiology) European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines on the management of acute myocardial infarction in patients with ST-segment elevation are published online today in European Heart Journal,1 and on the ESC website.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vxP0xx

ESC/EACTS Guidelines for the management of valvular heart disease published today

(European Society of Cardiology) European Society of Cardiology (ESC) / European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) Guidelines for the management of valvular heart disease are published online today in European Heart Journal1 and on the ESC website.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vf6WC0

Paleontologists discover new species of sauropod dinosaur in Tanzania

(National Science Foundation) Paleontologists have identified a new species of titanosaurian dinosaur. The research is reported in a paper published this week in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology and is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

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

CWRU awarded funding to understand how plant particle stimulates anti-tumor response

(Case Western Reserve University) Nicole Steinmetz, PhD, has received a major grant from the National Institutes of Health to help understand how a virus-like particle from plants stimulates potent anti-tumor responses. "This research is aimed at giving the body's own cancer-fighting capacity a major 'lift and push,'" said Steinmetz. "It also offers potential to fight cancer in dogs, who are of course members of our families as well. We are very grateful to the National Institutes of Health for supporting this potentially transformative work."

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

For pregnancy or profit: Motive for undergoing IVF may alter the experience

(Yale University) A new study published in the journal Social Science and Medicine compares the physical, emotional, and cognitive experiences of women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) either to become pregnant or to donate their eggs for money. The researchers found that there is a direct correlation between the intensity of a woman's bodily experience and her reason for harvesting eggs.

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

Given the choice, zebrafish willingly dose themselves with opioids

(University of Utah Health) Researchers at University of Utah Health devised a system that allowed zebrafish to self-administer doses of hydrocodone, an opioid commonly prescribed to people for pain, to study drug dependency behavior.

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

Hormonal IUDs have no effect on lactation or breastfeeding

(University of Utah Health) Early placement of a hormonal IUD is a safe, long-term birth control method that does not negatively affect women who want to breastfeed their baby.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2xj3PWM

10 million reasons that treatment of cancers caused by viruses may advance

(Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center) The National Institute of General Medical Sciences has awarded LSU Health New Orleans a $10 million grant over five years to support new basic research studies advancing the development new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for virus-induced cancers.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wEl3kl

Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases

(Bentham Science Publishers) This review focuses on four modifiable risk factors including physical inactivity, vascular disease-related conditions, obesity and type two diabetes mellitus, all of which have been identified as risk factors for the development of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Parkinson's Disease (PD).

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vv0cey

The losses that come after the earthquake: Devastating and costly

(Frontiers) The study, titled, 'Losses Associated with Secondary Effects in Earthquakes,' published by Frontiers in Built Environmen, looks at the devastation resulting from secondary disasters, such as tsunamis, liquefaction of sediments, fires, landslides, and flooding that occurred during 100 key earthquakes that occurred from 1900 to the present. And unlike previous studies, Daniell et al put a dollar value to the devastation from these secondary causes.

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

Dancing can reverse the signs of aging in the brain

(Frontiers) Physical exercise has an anti-aging effect on the hippocampus region of the brain -- an area that controls memory, learning and balance. A new study, comparing different forms of exercise -- dancing and endurance training -- undertaken by elderly volunteers for eighteen months, shows that both can have an anti-aging effect on the brain, but only dancing corresponded to a noticeable difference in behavior. This difference is attributed to the extra challenge of learning dancing routines.

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

Researchers predicted when cholera epidemic in Yemen would peak

(Hokkaido University) Hokkaido University scientists has developed a new mathematical model which accurately forecast that a devastating cholera epidemic in Yemen would peak by early July, the 26th week of 2017 and the cumulative incidence would be the order of 700-800 thousand cases.

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

New therapeutic antibody for dog cancers

(Hokkaido University) Scientists have developed a new chimeric antibody that suppresses malignant cancers in dogs, showing promise for safe and effective treatment of intractable cancers.

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

Flame retardants and likelihood of pregnancy in women undergoing fertility treatments

(Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health) Women with higher urinary concentrations of a common type of flame retardant had reduced likelihood of clinical pregnancy and live birth than those with lower concentrations, according to researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study, conducted in the Fertility Clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital, is the first to examine associations between organophosphate flame retardants (PFRs) -- which are used in polyurethane foam in many products, including upholstered furniture, baby products, and gym mats -- and reproductive outcomes in women.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2g9AN87

UTA researchers are refining their automated fact-checking system

(University of Texas at Arlington) A team of UTA researchers and their collaborators at Duke University, led by Chengkai Li, computer science and engineering associate professor, recently earned a three-year, $500,000 National Science Foundation grant to expand ClaimBuster, a tool they developed to verify facts reported in the media, to include new forms of media and publications and to automate the process as much as possible.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vtE7wP

Penn ethicist proposes new category for psychiatric patients to justify instances of compulsory treatment

(University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine) The 'involuntary treatment' of unwilling psychiatric patients has long been accepted as necessary in some cases, for the sake of patients and society, though it can raise serious ethical concerns as well as legal barriers. In a Viewpoint essay published online today in JAMA, ethicist Dominic Sisti, PhD, argues that some of the concerns about treating patients without their consent would be alleviated if the mental health profession recognized an important distinction among these cases.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2w8KUxM

Startup receives Veteran Affairs' grant to advance RoboTable, improve quality of life

(Purdue University) Prehensile Technologies, a company developing robotic assistive technology devices, is developing RoboTable, a robotic over-the-bed table, to help veterans and others with disabilities or mobility impairments better use their laptop computers and mobile devices while restricted to bed, allowing them to be more independent and remain productive with work or school.

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

Long, mysterious strips of RNA contribute to low sperm count

(Case Western Reserve University) Scientists have found distinctive portions of genetic material -- known as lncRNAs -- that help sperm develop. Male mice lacking a particular lncRNA have low sperm count, suggesting lncRNAs could represent novel infertility drug targets.

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

How the human brain detects the 'music' of speech

(University of California - San Francisco) Researchers at UC San Francisco have identified neurons in the human brain that respond to pitch changes in spoken language, which are essential to clearly conveying both meaning and emotion.

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

Mathematical mystery of ancient Babylonian clay tablet solved

(University of New South Wales) UNSW Sydney scientists have discovered the purpose of a famous 3,700-year old Babylonian clay tablet, revealing it is the world's oldest and most accurate trigonometric table, possibly used by ancient mathematical scribes to calculate how to construct palaces and temples and build canals. The new research shows the Babylonians beat the Greeks to the invention of trigonometry -- the study of triangles -- by more than 1,000 years.

from EurekAlert! - Archaeology http://ift.tt/2vtaf3L

Farming, cheese, chewing changed human skull shape

(University of California - Davis) The advent of farming, especially dairy products, had a small but significant effect on the shape of human skulls, according to a recently published study from anthropologists at UC Davis.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wBI4o3

World's oldest Italian wine just discovered

(University of South Florida (USF Health)) Researchers discover Italian wine residue from the Copper Age, debunking current belief wine growing and wine production in Italy developed during the Middle Bronze Age.

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

ASU/Biodesign researchers enter race for early Alzheimer's test

(Arizona State University) In a new study, Paul Coleman and his colleagues demonstrate the promise of an early blood test for Alzheimer's disease. The results suggest that Alzheimer's can be detected even before the onset of symptoms in persons at genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wC13yK

Potential impacts of planned Andean Amazon dams outweigh benefits, scientists say

(Wildlife Conservation Society) An international team of scientists investigating the effects of six planned or potential Andean dams on the Amazon river system has found that major negative ecological impacts can be expected both above the dams and throughout the lowland floodplains and the Amazon Delta.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2xw3Jum

Farming, cheese, chewing changed human skull shape

(University of California - Davis) The advent of farming, especially dairy products, had a small but significant effect on the shape of human skulls, according to a recently published study from anthropologists at UC Davis.

from EurekAlert! - Archaeology http://ift.tt/2wBI4o3

World's oldest Italian wine just discovered

(University of South Florida (USF Health)) Researchers discover Italian wine residue from the Copper Age, debunking current belief wine growing and wine production in Italy developed during the Middle Bronze Age.

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

Three faculty members receive NSF Convergence grants

(Penn State) Three Penn State faculty receive National Science Foundation Convergence awards as part of the Growing Convergent Research at NSF portfolio. The program seeks to highlight the deep integration of multiple disciplines in order to advance scientific discovery and innovation.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2w8tdP8

New research examines avocados' potential impact on cognitive health in older adults

(FoodMinds LLC) Consuming one fresh avocado per day may lead to improved cognitive function in healthy older adults due to increased lutein levels in the brain and eye, according to new research published in the journal Nutrients.

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

LGB older adults suffer more chronic health conditions than heterosexuals, stu

(University of Washington) A University of Washington study finds that lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) older adults were found to be in poorer health than heterosexuals, specifically in terms of higher rates of cardiovascular disease, weakened immune system and low back or neck pain. They also were at greater risk of some adverse health behaviors such as smoking and excessive drinking.

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

Viewers who tweet during presidential debates learn more about political issues

(University of Missouri-Columbia) A team of researchers at the University of Missouri's Political Communication Institute have found evidence that social media engagement -- or social watching -- during last year's presidential debates produced beneficial effects for those engaged on Twitter while watching the debates on TV. In a pair of studies, communication experts have found that issue-based tweeting was directly related to greater knowledge acquisition, and social watching actually helps viewers solidify their beliefs around their chosen candidates.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2g8TbOo

Flu vaccine rates for kids may drop when the nasal spray vaccine is unavailable

(Penn State) Influenza vaccination rates in children may have decreased for the 2016-17 influenza season because of a recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that the nasal spray version of the vaccine not be used, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2iutBE6

Young children's sense of self is similar to that of adults

(New York University) Young children's sense of self is similar to that of older kids and adults. The results show that our ability to reason about our self-worth as individuals develops early in life.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2v9YUdx

Caffeine tempers taste, triggering temptation for sweets

(Cornell University) Caffeine, the widely consumed stimulant and igniter of sluggish mornings, has been found to temper taste buds temporarily, making food and drink seem less sweet, according to new Cornell University research.

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

How the emotions of others influence our olfactory sense

(Ruhr-University Bochum) The emotional facial expression of others influences how positive or negative we perceive an odor. The basis of this effect seems to be the activity of a brain area that is relevant for smelling and is activated even before we perceive an odor. This is what neuropsychologists at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum found out. They published their findings in the Journal Scientific Reports.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2w7G8k7

1 in 5 women with postpartum mood disorders keep quiet

(North Carolina State University) A recent study finds that 21 percent of recent mothers experiencing postpartum mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression, do not disclose their symptoms to healthcare providers.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wqNCS4

The potential for a revolution

(University of Konstanz) What happens when the foundations of a scientific discipline change without the practitioners being aware of this change? This is the case confronting the mathematician and philosopher Dr. Carolin Antos in Konstanz. Her major focus so far has been set theory, and now the Volkswagen Foundation has awarded her a Freigeist Fellowship for her project 'Forcing: Conceptual Change in the Foundations of Mathematics.'

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wBD5Up

Panic disorder symptoms may be tied to acid-sensing receptor

(University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center) A pilot study at the University of Cincinnati -- the first to evaluate the TDAG8 expression in patients with panic disorder -- reveals significantly increased levels in patients with panic disorder, relative to their healthy control subjects. Researchers found an association with TDAG8 and symptom severity, and observed a relationship between TDAG8 and treatment response in patients who had been treated with antidepressants.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2w7YWjq

Reduced performance triggers turnover for nonprofit executives

(North Carolina State University) Nonprofit organizations that have declining expenditures -- an indication of reduced operations -- are more likely to seek new leadership, according to a new study.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2w7vFVN

Missed nursing care due to low nurse staffing increases patient mortality

(University of Southampton) Failure to deliver complete nursing care explains why hospitals with lower registered nursing (RN) staff levels have a higher risk of patient death, a new University of Southampton study has shown.Jane Ball, Principal Research Fellow at the university, who led the study, says the results published in the International Journal of Nursing Studies reveal that care left undone due to lack of time is the 'missing link' in understanding variation in hospital mortality rates.

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

BAM, UBA and BfR in US to promote careers in German departmental research

(BfR Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) Together with the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung and the German Environment Agency, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment will provide information about careers in departmental research to German scientists in the US at the Annual Convention of the German Academic International Network (GAIN) in San Francisco from Aug. 25-27, 2017.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2w1sZuL

Illegal dumping during road construction in Ethiopia affects child mortality

(Queen Mary University of London) Researchers have shown that living near newly built roads in Ethiopia is associated with higher rates of infant mortality. Proximity to new roads has negative health effects because of toxic waste dumped illegally during the construction phase.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wr3lk7

High-dimensional quantum encryption performed in real-world city conditions for first time

(The Optical Society) For the first time, researchers have sent a quantum-secured message containing more than one bit of information per photon through the air above a city.

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

Revolutionary approach brings 3-D sound into the living room

(University of Surrey) Computer vision and sound experts at the University of Surrey have demonstrated 'Media Device Orchestration' -- an innovative home audio concept which enables users to enjoy immersive audio experiences by using all available devices in a typical living room.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vjc7ww

Mathematical tools improve theory and prediction in psychiatry

(Elsevier) Recent years have seen an explosion in the use of mathematical models to integrate insights emerging from studies of the brain and behavior. This approach has been used to develop new theoretical perspectives that can enrich data analysis, which researchers hope will help explain mechanisms behind complex psychiatric diseases and improve treatment for patients. Biological Psychiatry presents a special issue titled 'Computational Psychiatry' dedicated to these exciting advancements.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vjl1u2

Zika monkey study suggests worse fetal effects for vaginal versus mosquito transmission

(PLOS) Rhesus macaques that were vaginally infected with Zika virus showed higher prevalence of Zika in the reproductive tract than previously seen in macaques that received skin injections of the virus. The findings, published in PLOS Pathogens, suggest that vaginal transmission may increase the risk or severity of fetal Zika disease compared to mosquito transmission.

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

UCLA research reveals how new behaviors appear and spread among capuchin monkeys

(University of California - Los Angeles) A study led by UCLA professor of anthropology Susan Perry reveals that older, sociable capuchins are prone to inventing more new types of social behaviors, many of which seem to function either as tests of friendship or displays against enemies. Other behaviors the researchers observed involved games, new ways to interact with infants and novel forms of sexual interaction.

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

Don't multitask while you read this

(University of California - Los Angeles) How much do all of the distractions in our lives reduce our ability to remember? A new UCLA psychology study found that divided attention does impair memory, but people can still selectively focus on what is most important -- even while they're multitasking.

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

Answers needed on sly grog trade

(James Cook University) James Cook University researchers in Australia have found sophisticated tactics are being used to smuggle illicit alcohol into Indigenous communities -- with sly grog traders selling alcohol for up to 11 times its retail price.

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

'Pop drop' study finds more ER visits & higher costs for older disabled patients

(Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan) Fatigue, sadness and poor health among the spouses who take care of disabled elders can mean higher Medicare bills for the patients.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2v8QNOq

Fantastic beasts and why to conserve them

(University of Leeds) Beliefs in magical creatures can impact the protection of biodiversity and the field of conservation needs to consider them seriously, researchers have warned.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2w6s8ad

Severity of North Pacific storms at highest point in over 1,200 years

(Dartmouth College) Ice cores from Denali and Mount Logan offer insight into global climate connections and the history on intensifying storms.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2g6kPvw

Chimpanzees learn rock-paper-scissors

(Kyoto University) Chimpanzees of all ages and all sexes can learn the simple circular relationship between the three different hand signals used in the well-known game rock-paper-scissors.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2g6kLMi

11 minutes of mindfulness training helps drinkers cut back

(University College London) Brief training in mindfulness strategies could help heavy drinkers start to cut back on alcohol consumption, finds a new UCL study published in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2w5lHEs

Death rates from rheumatic heart disease falling since 1990

(Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation) The risk of dying from rheumatic heart disease, a condition of damaged heart valves caused by bacterial infection that leads to rheumatic fever, has dropped around the world over the last 25 years, according to a new scientific study published today in The New England Journal of Medicine.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2v6AhOF

Could nicotine reduction help curb addiction?

(Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont) A new study examining the effects of nicotine reduction among more vulnerable smokers supports the FDA's recent recommendation for lowering nicotine to non-addictive levels.

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

Building an inclusive community of scholars through mentoring and research

(University of Massachusetts at Amherst) Two longtime advocates of broadening science education, UMass Amherst biologist Margaret Riley and education professor Elizabeth McEneaney, have received a three-year, $987,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to continue their efforts to increase student participation and success in STEM careers and research.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2xtm9Mr

Low-Income extraverts spend more on status than introverted peers

(Association for Psychological Science) The types of goods and services that low-income individuals buy may depend, at least in part, on their personality traits, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wFzMe0

New equipment maps brain activity and blood flow in state-of-the-art neuroscience lab

(University of Alberta) The optical brain-imaging tool, called the Imagent, comes to the University of Alberta as the result of new funding for neuroscientist Kyle Mathewson, from the John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF), a Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) initiative.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wyE7k7

You and some 'cavemen' get a genetic checkup

(Georgia Institute of Technology) Evolution has weeded out genetic variants associated with diseases for millennia and propagated variants that protect against ailments, a comparative genetics study shows. But in the last 500 to 1,000 years that trend appears to have changed. Is the apparent reversal in genetic health underpinnings real? Or an odd coincidence in the early data set of this very new research field?

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wFfdP6

Advanced Practice Nurses Improve Health Care for Nursing Home Residents

(University of Missouri-Columbia) To improve health care for the nation's aging population, researchers from the Sinclair School of Nursing at the University of Missouri are studying how advanced practice nurses (APRNs) can improve nursing home care by serving as leaders of health care teams in nursing homes. Findings suggest that APRN-led health care teams reduce hospitalizations related to falls, dehydration and other health issues.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2xsI7z4

More education linked to better cognitive functioning later in life

(Lumosity) New research from the University of California, Berkeley, analyzed the performance of around 196,000 Lumosity subscribers to quantify the cumulative effect of attending school on cognition, finding that more education is linked to better cognitive functioning later in life.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vprH90

Extensive arsenic contamination found in groundwater beneath Pakistan's Indus plain

(American Association for the Advancement of Science) Researchers report widespread arsenic contamination of groundwater beneath the Indus Plain in Pakistan, posing a significant health hazard to the estimated 50 million to 60 million people who depend on that resource for drinking water. Regularly drinking water that

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

Confederate submarine crew killed by their own weapon

(Duke University) A powerful shockwave from the H.L. Hunley's own weapon killed the crew of the Confederate combat submarine as it sunk a Union ship. This finding comes from a four-year research project that involved repeatedly setting blasts near a scale model, shooting authentic weapons at historically accurate iron plate and many calculations on human respiration and the transmission of blast energy by Rachel Lance, a 2016 Ph.D. graduate of Duke Engineering.

from EurekAlert! - Archaeology http://ift.tt/2v6DEoT

New understanding of how muscles work

(McGill University) Muscle malfunctions may be as simple as a slight strain after exercise or as serious as heart failure and muscular dystrophy. A new technique developed at McGill University now makes it possible to look much more closely at how sarcomeres, the basic building blocks within all skeletal and cardiac muscles, work together. It's a discovery that should advance research into a wide range of muscle malfunctions.

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

Personality drives purchasing of luxury goods

(University College London) People who are extraverted and on low incomes buy more luxury goods than their introverted peers to compensate for the experience of low financial status, finds new UCL research.

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

Use of brain-computer interface, virtual avatar could help people with gait disabilities

(University of Houston) Researchers from the University of Houston have shown for the first time that the use of a brain-computer interface augmented with a virtual walking avatar can control gait, suggesting the protocol may help patients recover the ability to walk after stroke, some spinal cord injuries and certain other gait disabilities.

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

Labor market effects of trade liberalization

(Carnegie Mellon University) A new study on the Brazilian labor market found that workers in regions with industries facing increased competition from imports experienced a steady decrease in earnings over time in comparison to other regions.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2w2YZgh

Altered mitochondria associated with increased autism risk

(Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) Mitochondria, the tiny structures inside our cells that generate energy, may play a key role in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). A provocative new study by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)'s pioneering mitochondrial medicine team suggests that variations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) originating during ancient human migrations may be an important contributor to ASD predisposition.

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

Is MRI needed in children with a sports-related concussion?

(Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News) A new study reviewed more than five years of records of pediatric patients treated for sports concussion, the most common form of traumatic brain injury (TBI) among children, to determine if magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed structural changes to the brain that may be related to persistent symptoms.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2v688HP

Linking mental health and the gut microbiome

(Frontiers) Better understanding the gastrointestinal microbiome may help psychiatrists treat mental health disorders such as depression, highlights a review in Frontiers in Psychiatry.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2g5yzXi

Smokers in clinical studies who say they've quit often haven't

(Society for the Study of Addiction) A new US study published by the scientific journal Addiction has found that a high proportion of smokers enrolled in stop-smoking programs during a hospital stay report having quit when in fact they have not. The findings mean that in these kinds of study it is vital to check claims of having quit using an objective measure.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wnLKt7

Antipsychotics common for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities

(Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) Antipsychotic medication is frequently being prescribed to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, often without a psychiatric diagnosis, a new study conducted by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences has found.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2iqy2zT

Study of homeless finds women at disadvantage for accessing disability benefits

(North Carolina State University) A recent study of homeless adults finds that women are at a significant disadvantage compared to men when it comes to accessing disability benefits. The study also finds that medical records are key to accessing disability benefits, which poses a problem for many homeless adults.

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

Comparing food allergies: Animals and humans may have more in common than you think

(University of Veterinary Medicine -- Vienna) Not only people, but mammals like cats, dogs and horses suffer from symptoms and problems of food intolerance and allergies. The Messerli Research Institute of Vetmeduni and Meduni Vienna, now condensed the knowledge about human and animal food allergies and intolerance into a new European position paper. It highlights the strong similarities in symptoms and triggers of adverse food reactions and stresses the need for more comparative studies on mechanisms and diagnosis of food intolerance.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2is4m5I

A song's structure can be linked to its popularity

(Frontiers) Music can elicit strong emotions, which can be hard to describe. A new study has found that a simple change in harmonic structure can contribute to our preference for certain songs. Analyzing the chords of over 500 pop songs between 1958 and 1991, the study reveals a link between those showing higher 'harmonic surprise' (chords that do not usually follow each other) and their popularity in the Billboard Top 100 chart.

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

Researchers link high levels of 'good' cholesterol with excessive mortality

(University of Copenhagen The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences) In striking contrast to the general perception, researchers from the University of Copenhagen have shown in a new study that people with extremely high levels of HDL -- the 'good' cholesterol -- in their blood have a more than 65 percent higher mortality rate than people with normal HDL levels. The researchers say the results should lead to a change in the way 'good' cholesterol is perceived.

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

Special focus issue of Bioanalysis explores bioanalytical outsourcing strategies

(Future Science Group) Bioanalysis, a leading MEDLINE-indexed journal for bioanalysts, has published a special focus issue on 'Outsourcing Strategies in Bioanalysis.'

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

Children with fragile X syndrome have a bias toward threatening emotion

(Elsevier) Anxiety occurs at high rates in children with fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common form of inherited intellectual disability. Children with co-occurring anxiety tend to fare worse, but it can be hard to identify in infants. A new study in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging reports that infants and children with FXS show bias toward threatening emotion, rather than positive emotion, a pattern highly linked with anxiety.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wE87KI

Psychotic disorders and obesity: New report shows big waistlines are to blame

(Florida Atlantic University) A number of factors, including obesity, shorten the lifespan for those with schizophrenia by 20 years and by 10 years for those with bipolar disorder compared to the general population. In the first study to compare long-term weight gain across psychotic disorders, researchers from FAU show that expanding waistlines and the way body fat is distributed are largely to blame.

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

New use of blood cleaning device saves high-risk patients with liver failure

(University of Maryland Medical Center) University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers report that a device that removes toxins from the blood can also effectively provide a bridge to liver transplantation or buy time for a traumatically injured liver to heal, suggesting broader uses for the device than previously thought.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2w2Pgqs

So-called 'bright girl effect' does not last into adulthood, study finds

(Case Western Reserve University) The notion that young females limit their own progress based on what they believe about their intelligence -- called the 'bright girl effect' -- does not persist into adulthood, according to new research from Case Western Reserve University.

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

Parenting style reduces kids' distress in war

(Frontiers) Researchers in Israel have found that maternal authoritativeness and warmth helps to protect against psychological distress and mental health symptoms in children exposed to war. The results suggest that combining emotional support and warmth with discipline and openness to negotiation could be an effective way to protect children from emotional trauma following violent conflict.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vf54ot

Wild sheep grazed in the Black Desert 14,500 years ago

(University of Copenhagen - Faculty of Humanities) Excavations of architecture and associated deposits left by hunter-gatherers in the Black Desert in eastern Jordan have revealed bones from wild sheep -- a species previously not identified in this area in the Late Pleistocene. According to the team of University of Copenhagen archaeologists, who led the excavations, the discovery is further evidence that the region often seen as a 'marginal zone' was capable of supporting a variety of resources, including a population of wild sheep, 14,500 years ago.

from EurekAlert! - Archaeology http://ift.tt/2w1fDNp

NIST study suggests frailty makes elderly more likely to die in home fires

(National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)) A new study by NIST shows scientifically for the first time that an individual's ability to respond quickly to a residential fire determines who dies and who gets injured. Home fire deaths, the NIST researchers state, are more likely among those they define as frail populations--persons who are not in robust health and primarily age 65 and older--while nonfatal injuries occur more often in adults ages 20 to 49.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vm8J3k

Why both bigots and egalitarians say 'they don't see race'

(Ohio State University) People who claim they 'don't see race' when they evaluate others may think they all have similar beliefs about racial justice -- but they're very wrong, according to a new book. In fact, the belief in 'racial colorblindness' unites people who range from liberal to conservative and hardened racists to egalitarians

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2ipP814

Like adults, children show bias in attributing mental states to others

(Association for Psychological Science) Young children are more likely to attribute mental states to characters that belong to the same group as them relative to characters that belong to an outside group, according to findings published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The study shows that 5- and 6-year-olds were more likely to describe interactions between two characters in terms of what they were thinking and feeling when the characters had the same gender or geographic origin as them.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2w0CJ6P

Getting hold of quantum dot biosensors

(The Optical Society) Harnessing the nano-tractor-beam like abilities of optical tweezers, researchers from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, developed an all-silicon nanoantenna to trap individual quantum dots suspended in a microfluidic chamber.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2ioIgB5

The environment can become a noninvasive therapeutic approach to bolster white matter health

(Children's National Health System) Those parents you overhear transforming trips to the grocery store into sensory adventures -- telling babies too young to babble that broccoli is GREEN, radishes are RED and tangerines are ORANGE -- are onto something. Being exposed to a complex and stimulating environment rich with new sights, sounds and a full vocabulary can play a powerful role in strengthening infants' developing brains.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2g1xRKH

Study suggests serotonin may worsen tinnitus

(Oregon Health & Science University) Millions of people suffer from the constant sensation of ringing or buzzing in the ears known as tinnitus, creating constant irritation for some and severe anxiety for others. Research by scientists at OHSU shows why a common antidepressant medication may worsen the condition.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2in9asX

Study links fish stress hormones to whether they take the bait

(University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) Take a fish out of water and its stress hormones will go up. Adrenaline and noradrenaline, the 'fight or flight' hormones, peak first, followed more gradually by cortisol. A new study finds that largemouth bass whose cortisol levels rise most after a brief bout of stress are inherently harder to catch by angling.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2g2rLtu

Kessler Foundation awarded major Wallerstein Foundation grant for stroke research

(Kessler Foundation) Kessler Foundation was awarded a $250,000 grant by the Wallerstein Foundation for Geriatric Life Improvement. The three-year grant will advance the Foundation's stroke rehabilitation research in the diagnosis and treatment of spatial neglect, a hidden disability that complicates recovery after right brain stroke.

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

Opioid crisis in Staten Island affects all races, ages, and socioeconomic backgrounds

(Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health) Contrary to media reports, the opioid epidemic on New York's Staten Island is not confined to affluent young white residents, and affects all neighborhoods, races, ages, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The study conducted by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) was issued by the District Attorney's Office for Staten Island.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2g2USg7

Artificial intelligence predicts dementia before onset of symptoms

(McGill University) Imagine if doctors could determine, many years in advance, who is likely to develop dementia. Such prognostic capabilities would give patients and their families time to plan and manage treatment and care. Thanks to artificial intelligence research conducted at McGill University, this kind of predictive power could soon be available to clinicians everywhere.

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

Orange is the new green: How orange peels revived a Costa Rican forest

(Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs) In the mid-1990s, 1,000 truckloads of orange peels and orange pulp were purposefully unloaded onto a barren pasture in a Costa Rican national park. Today, that area is covered in lush, vine-laden forest.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2iowxT5

Oral steroid does not reduce lower respiratory tract infection symptoms in nonasthmatic adults

(The JAMA Network Journals) Among adults without asthma who developed an acute lower respiratory tract infection, use of the oral steroid prednisolone for five days did not reduce symptom duration or severity, according to a study published by JAMA.

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

Medicaid patients continue high prescription opioid use after overdose

(The JAMA Network Journals) Despite receiving medical attention for an overdose, patients in Pennsylvania Medicaid continued to have persistently high prescription opioid use, with only slight increases in use of medication-assisted treatment, according to a study published by JAMA.

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

Wealth disparity and family income impact the brain development of female youth

(Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care) Female teenagers living in neighbourhoods with wide salary gaps and a low-income household show changes to their brain maturation that could indicate a higher risk of developing mental illness in adulthood, suggests a recently published study by Canadian researchers.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wAXAA0

Study documents continued decline in use of hormone therapy by Canadian women

(The North American Menopause Society (NAMS)) Ever since menopause was first discussed publicly, the debate over the use of hormone therapy (HT) has monopolized headlines. Recognized as the most effective option for managing hot flashes and other menopause symptoms, the use of HT has continued to decline, largely as a result of the data released from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) in 2002. New study results published in Menopause, documents the decline, along with the factors affecting a Canadian woman's likelihood of using HT.

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

Why do young adults post harmful personal content on social media?

(Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News) A new study looked at self-presentation of potentially damaging content on social media and examined whether this risky behavior is more likely associated with impulsivity and spontaneity or deliberate self-monitoring.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2wAS7cg