Major genetic study confirms that many genes contribute to risk for Tourette's syndrome

(Massachusetts General Hospital) A meta-analysis of multiple studies into the genetic background of Tourette's syndrome (TS) -- a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by chronic involuntary motor and vocal tics -- finds that variants in hundreds of genes, working in combination, contribute to the development of the syndrome and suggests that Tourette's is part of a continuous spectrum of tic disorders, ranging from mild, sometimes transient tics to severe cases that can include psychiatric symptoms.

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The Lancet: Conceiving within a year of stillbirth does not increase risks for next pregnancy

(The Lancet) The results are from the first large-scale observational study to investigate the interval between stillbirth and subsequent pregnancy, including almost 14,500 births in women from Australia, Finland and Norway who had a stillbirth in their previous pregnancy. The findings are published in The Lancet.

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Researcher studies impact of drug-trafficking violence

(University of Massachusetts Lowell) A UMass Lowell researcher who analyzes the causes and impacts of violence fueled by drug trafficking has won critical acclaim for her work and is bringing a fresh understanding of these issues from the streets into the classroom.

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Could medical marijuana help grandma and grandpa with their ailments?

(American Academy of Neurology) Medical marijuana may bring relief to older people who have symptoms like pain, sleep disorders or anxiety due to chronic conditions including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, neuropathy, spinal cord damage and multiple sclerosis, according to a preliminary study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 71st Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, May 4-10, 2019.

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Brain processes concrete and abstract words differently

(American Physiological Society) A new review explores the different areas of the brain that process the meaning of concrete and abstract concepts. The article is published ahead of print in the Journal of Neurophysiology (JNP).

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Tracking food leads to losing pounds

(Duke University) Without following a particular diet, overweight people who tracked daily food consumption using a free smartphone app lost a significant amount of weight in a new Duke University study. The results were achieved using automated, free tools, rather than expensive in-person interventions, suggesting a possible low-cost route to effective weight loss.

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New study links electronic cigarettes and wheezing in adults

(University of Rochester Medical Center) People who vaped were nearly twice as likely to experience wheezing compared to people who didn't use tobacco products, according to a study published in Tobacco Control. The findings are consistent with past research that shows emissions from e-cig aerosols and flavorings damage lung cells by generating harmful free radicals and inflammation in lung tissue. Study authors say the take-home message is that electronic cigarettes are not safe when it comes to lung health.

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In singing mice, scientists find clue to our own rapid conversations

(University of Texas at Austin) Studying the songs of mice from the cloud forests of Costa Rica, researchers have identified a brain circuit that might enable the high-speed back and forth of human conversation. This insight could help researchers better understand the causes of speech disorders and point the way to new treatments.

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Happy in marriage? Genetics may play a role

(Yale University) People fall in love for many reasons -- similar interests, physical attraction, and shared values among them. But if they marry and stay together, their long-term happiness may depend on their individual genes or those of their spouse, says a new study led by Yale School of Public Health researchers.

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Study shows economic burden of dengue fever

(PLOS) Dengue fever is a major public health concern in many parts of South-East Asia and South America and its prevalence in Africa is thought to be expanding. Researchers have now conducted an analysis of the economic burden of dengue fever in Burkina Faso, Kenya and Cambodia. Their results appear this week in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

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Wireless patches can comfortably monitor sick babies’ health

New skin sensors that wirelessly transmit health data could offer a less invasive way to keep tabs on newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit.

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Oceans that are warming due to climate change yield fewer fish

Warming water due to climate change is diminishing sustainable fishery yields in the world’s oceans.

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How singing mice belt out duets

A precise timing system in the brain helps musical rodents from the cloud forests of Costa Rica sing to one another.

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Junk food purchases increase after recreational marijuana legalization

(University of Connecticut) New research by a UConn economist found a link between state recreational marijuana legalization and increased consumption of certain high-calorie foods.

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New project explores how international security alliances fail

(University of California - Davis) UC Davis political scientists have been awarded a Department of Defense grant to study what makes alliances like NATO work and what breaks them.

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Despite export bans global seahorse trade continues

(University of British Columbia) Many countries are engaged in a vast illegal and unrecorded international trade in seahorses, one that circumvents global regulations, according to new UBC study that has implications for many other animal species.

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New findings shed light on origin of upright walking in human ancestors

(Case Western Reserve University) The oldest distinguishing feature between humans and our ape cousins is our ability to walk on two legs - a trait known as bipedalism. Among mammals, only humans and our ancestors perform this atypical balancing act. New research led by a Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine professor of anatomy provides evidence for greater reliance on terrestrial bipedalism by a human ancestor than previously suggested in the ancient fossil record.

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Ability to control stress reduces negative impact

(Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona) In individuals, stress exposure in adolescence increases vulnerability and risk of developing psychopathologies in adulthood, such as drug addiction, mood, anxiety, addiction to gambling, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, etc. Researchers at the UAB observed in animal models that the ability to control the source of stress diminishes its effects and could reduce the risk of later developing mental disorders. The research appears today in the journal Scientific Reports.

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Data sharing uncovers five new risk genes for Alzheimer's disease

(NIH/National Institute on Aging) Analysis of genetic data revealed five new and confirmed 20 known risk genes for Alzheimer's disease. Research also shows that mutations in genes specific to tau, a hallmark protein of Alzheimer's, may play an earlier role in the disease. These new findings support developing evidence that groups of genes associated with processes, such as cell trafficking, lipid transport, inflammation and immune response, are 'genetic hubs' that are an important part of the disease process.

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How common are mental health disorders after diagnosis of head and neck cancer?

(JAMA Network) Treatment for head and neck cancer (HNC) might cure the disease but it also can result in adverse effects such as disfigurement and speech difficulties, which can affect quality of life for patients. Using information from a large insurance claims database, this study examined how common mental health disorders were in patients with HNC and how they were associated with diagnosis and treatment.

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Unveiling disease-causing genetic changes in chromosome 17

(Baylor College of Medicine) Extensive single Watson-Crick base pair mutations can occur in addition to duplication or deletion of an entire group of genes on chromosomal region 17p11.2.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2GS3kuR

New findings shed light on origin of upright walking in human ancestors

(Case Western Reserve University) The oldest distinguishing feature between humans and our ape cousins is our ability to walk on two legs - a trait known as bipedalism. Among mammals, only humans and our ancestors perform this atypical balancing act. New research led by a Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine professor of anatomy provides evidence for greater reliance on terrestrial bipedalism by a human ancestor than previously suggested in the ancient fossil record.

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What spiders eating weird stuff tell us about complex Amazon food webs

By documenting rare events of invertebrates eating small vertebrates, scientists are shedding new light on the Amazon rainforest’s intricate ecosystem.

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Gonorrhoea: Drug resistance compromises recommended treatment in Europe

(European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) ) Gonorrhoea is the second most commonly notified sexually transmitted infection across the EU/EEA countries with almost 500 000 reported cases between 2007 and 2016. The infection is treatable but Neisseria gonorrhoeae keep showing high levels of azithromycin resistance according to latest results of the European Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme. This antibiotic agent is part of the currently recommended therapy regimen for gonorrhoea and observed resistance patterns threaten its effectiveness.

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Home insurance buyers lack access to public flood data

(University of Waterloo) Canadian homeowners do not have the information they need to know if they should buy flood insurance leaving them exposed to significant financial risk. A recent study from the University of Waterloo found flood mapping information in Canada was inadequate, incomplete, hard to locate and varied widely from province-to-province.

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Scientists at FAU are researching a new method for developing artificial ovaries

(University of Erlangen-Nuremberg) An interdisciplinary team of researchers at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg led by Professor Aldo R. Boccaccini from the Chair of Materials Science (biomaterials) and Professor Dr. Ralf Dittrich from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Universitätsklinikum Erlangen have taken an important step towards developing artificial ovaries for patients suffering from cancer.

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Bungee jumping for science

(Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin) Immediately before a person decides to launch themselves off a bridge for a bungee jump, there is a measurable increase in their brain activity. This can be recorded nearly one second before the person makes the conscious decision to jump. Researchers from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin have, for the first time, succeeded in measuring this 'Bereitschaftspotential' (readiness potential) outside a laboratory and under extreme conditions. Results from this research have been published in Scientific Reports*.

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Goethe University co-ordinates mega-project on cybersecurity and data protection

(Goethe University Frankfurt) An extensive research project on cybersecurity and data protection in Europe will be launched this week. Goethe University Frankfurt has assumed the leadership and co-ordination of the 43 total consortium partners from science, business, industry and society.

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New sanitation system halves healthcare associated infections and cuts costs by 75 percent

(Bocconi University) The spread of antimicrobial resistance in hospitals can be limited by sanitation methods that remodulate the hospital microbiota, leading to lower antimicrobial consumption and costs, according to a paper in Infection and Drug Resistance co-authored by two Bocconi University scholars. In particular, an experiment conducted in five Italian hospitals led to a 52 percent decrease in healthcare associated infections, a 60.3 percent reduction in associated drug consumption and a 75.4 percent decrease in the related costs.

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Mindfulness could promote positive body image

(Anglia Ruskin University) Making people more aware of their own internal body signals, such as heartbeat or breathing rate, could promote positive body image, according to new research published in the journal Body Image.

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Actor, advocate LeVar Burton named 2019 Inamori Ethics Prize-winner

(Case Western Reserve University) LeVar Burton, a celebrated American actor, director, producer and writer for more than 40 years, is adding another accolade -- this one for his tireless, decades-long dedication to children's literacy and AIDS research and treatment. This fall, the Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence at Case Western Reserve University will award the 2019 Inamori Ethics Prize to Burton for his outstanding global ethical leadership as an advocate for such important and worthy causes.

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New study indicates early-term infants can succeed at breastfeeding

(University of British Columbia Okanagan campus) Researchers have determined that healthy premature babies can have as much success breastfeeding as full-term babies.The study, conducted by researchers at UBC Okanagan's School of Nursing and the University of Hong Kong, involved 2,700 pairs of mothers and infants and included two different survey groups -- one in 2006/07 and another in 2011/12. The mother-infant pairs were monitored from birth to 12 months or until breastfeeding ceased.

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Watching hours of TV is tied to verbal memory decline in older people

The more television people age 50 and up watched, the worse they recalled a list of words in tests years later, a study finds.

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WSU researcher discovers oldest tattoo tool in western North America

(Washington State University) Washington State University archaeologists have discovered the oldest tattooing artifact in western North America. The tool was made around 2,000 years ago by the Ancestral Pueblo people of the Basketmaker II period in what is now southeastern Utah.

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WSU researcher discovers oldest tattoo tool in western North America

(Washington State University) Washington State University archaeologists have discovered the oldest tattooing artifact in western North America. The tool was made around 2,000 years ago by the Ancestral Pueblo people of the Basketmaker II period in what is now southeastern Utah.

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50 years ago, people thought MSG caused ‘Chinese restaurant syndrome’

In the 1960s, people blamed monosodium glutamate in Chinese food for making them sick, but the claim hasn't stood up to time or science.

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Psychiatry: Case notes indicate impending seclusion

(University of Basel) Using notes made by the attending healthcare professionals about psychiatric patients enables impending coercive measures to be predicted in advance -- potentially even through automated text analysis. This was reported by researchers from the University of Basel and the Psychiatric University Clinics Basel in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry.

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India's child nutrition program sees higher utilization, but fewer gains in high-burden states

(International Food Policy Research Institute) Expansion and utilization of one of India's largest government-run community-based nutrition programs increased significantly between 2006 and 2016, especially among historically disadvantaged castes and tribes. But, women with low education and the poorest households are relatively more excluded from accessing program benefits. Among states too, while overall utilization has improved, high malnutrition states are relatively lagging.

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Higher hospital readmission rates for cardiac patients in Northern vs. Southern Ontario: Importance

(Elsevier) Patients hospitalized with heart attacks, heart failure, atrial fibrillation or stroke in Northern Ontario, Canada, were more likely to be readmitted to the hospital and repeatedly hospitalized after discharge than those living in Southern Ontario. Yet, no geographical differences were found in 30-day survival. A new study recommends providing access to timely transitional care by clinicians who have the knowledge and expertise to treat patients recently discharged from hospital as one of several strategies necessary to reduce hospital readmission rates.

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Is alcohol consumption more helpful than harmful? It depends on your age

(Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs) Studies of health effects of alcohol consumption may underestimate the risks of imbibing, particularly for younger people, according to a new study in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

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Intervention with at-risk infants increases children's compliance at age 3

(Society for Research in Child Development) Children who are maltreated often develop problems complying with directions and expectations of parents and other authority figures. Lack of compliance can lead to other problems, including difficulty regulating anger and academic troubles. A new study tested a home-visiting intervention for parents of children referred to Child Protective Services (CPS). The study found that children whose parents took part in the intervention demonstrated significantly better compliance than children whose parents did not, and that parents' sensitivity also increased.

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Newly identified drug targets could open door for esophageal cancer therapeutics

(Case Western Reserve University) Blocking two molecular pathways that send signals inside cancer cells could stave off esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), the most common esophageal malignancy in the United States, according to new research out of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

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Don't panic: Lessons learned from Hawaii false alarm

(University of Georgia) People did not panic after receiving a false alarm text message about an impending ballistic missile. Instead they looked to others for what to do.

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Facial recognition software to identify Civil War soldiers

(Virginia Tech) Photo Sleuth may help uncover the mysteries of nearly 4 million photographs of Civil War-era images.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2tFll70

Northwest Coast clam gardens nearly 2,000 years older than previously thought -- study

(Simon Fraser University) A study led by SFU archaeology professor Dana Lepofsky and Hakai Institute researcher Nicole Smith reveals that clam gardens, ancient Indigenous food security systems located along B.C.'s coast, date back at least 3,500 years -- almost 2,000 years older than previously thought. These human-built beach terraces continue to create habitat for clams and other sea creatures to flourish in the area.

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Sandia spiking tool improves artificially intelligent devices

(DOE/Sandia National Laboratories) The aptly named software package Whetstone enables neural computer networks to process information up to 100 times more efficiently than current standards, making possible an increased use of artificial intelligence in mobile phones, self-driving cars, and image interpretation.

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Federal same-sex marriage ruling improved life satisfaction for individuals, study shows

(University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences) Human Development and Family Studies researchers at the University of Illinois intially wanted to understand how variation in state-level legislation and local community climate regarding same-sex marriage impacts the well-being and life satisfaction of same-sex couples across the US. When the US Supreme Court announced they would be ruling on same-sex marriage in 2015, the researchers expanded their project so they could evaluate the impact of the Obergefell vs. Hodges decision.

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This parasitic cuckoo bird shows cheaters don’t always get ahead

Birds called greater anis that can slip extra eggs into other nests create a natural test of the benefits of honest parenting.

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Genes might explain why dogs can’t sniff out some people under stress

Genes and stress may change a person’s body odor, confusing police dogs.

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Opioid use in the family may influence adolescents' opioid risk after surgery

(Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan) Having a family member with persistent opioid use may be a risk factor for young adults continuing prescriptions long after their own surgeries, a new Michigan Medicine study suggests.

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Study reveals the structure of the 2nd human cannabinoid receptor

(Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology) There are two cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) in the human body that can be targeted to alleviate certain pathological conditions, including chronic pain. Researchers from managed to obtain the crystal structure of CB2. While the CB1 receptors are responsible for psychoactive effects, the CB2 receptors are predominantly present in the immune system. Studies indicate that CB2 is a promising target for immunotherapy, as well as treating inflammatory and neuropathic pain, and neurodegenerative diseases.

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Complex medication regimens create challenges for home health care

(New York University) Medically high-risk patients and communication breakdowns between providers contribute to the difficulty of medication management for older adults receiving home health care, finds a study led by researchers at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing.

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Toxic byproducts of Agent Orange continue to pollute Vietnam environment, study says

(University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences) During the Vietnam War, United States aircraft sprayed more than 20 million gallons of herbicides, including dioxin-contaminated Agent Orange, on the country's rain forests, wetlands, and croplands. A new article from the University of Illinois and Iowa State University documents the environmental legacy of Agent Orange in Vietnam, including hotspots where dioxin continues to enter the food supply.

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Achieving Paris climate target could net additional billions in fisheries revenue

(University of British Columbia) Achieving the Paris Agreement global warming target could protect millions of tonnes in annual worldwide fisheries catch, as well as billions of dollars of annual revenues for fishers, workers' income and household seafood expenditures, according to new research from the University of British Columbia.

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3,500 years of shellfish farming by indigenous peoples on the Northwest coast

(PLOS) The indigenous peoples of British Columbia have been harvesting shellfish from specially-constructed clam gardens for at least 3,500 years, according to a study released Feb. 27, 2019, in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Nicole Smith of the Hakai Institute, Dana Lepofsky of Simon Fraser University, and colleagues. This research offers new methods for tracking the history and development of mariculture.

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Mother's behavioral corrections tune infant's brain to angry tone

(PLOS) The same brain network that adults use when they hear angry vocalizations is at work in infants as young as six months old, an effect that is strongest in infants whose mothers spend the most time controlling their behavior, according to a new study in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Chen Zhao of the University of Manchester, UK, and colleagues.

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Ancient extinct sloth tooth in Belize tells story of creature's last year

(University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) Some 27,000 years ago in central Belize, a giant sloth was thirsty. It eventually found water in a deep sinkhole, but it was the creature's last drink. A new analysis of its tooth offers insight into the landscape it inhabited and what it ate its last year of life.

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3,500 years of shellfish farming by indigenous peoples on the Northwest coast

(PLOS) The indigenous peoples of British Columbia have been harvesting shellfish from specially-constructed clam gardens for at least 3,500 years, according to a study released Feb. 27, 2019, in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Nicole Smith of the Hakai Institute, Dana Lepofsky of Simon Fraser University, and colleagues. This research offers new methods for tracking the history and development of mariculture.

from EurekAlert! - Archaeology https://ift.tt/2EBlyyk

A rare assemblage of sharks and rays from nearshore environments of Eocene Madagascar

(PLOS) Eocene-aged sediments of Madagascar contain a previously unknown fauna of sharks and rays, according to a study released Feb. 27, 2019, in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Karen Samonds of Northern Illinois University and colleagues. This newly described fauna is the first report of sharks and rays of this age in Madagascar.

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Smoking and alcohol: Double trouble for the brain?

(American Chemical Society) Along with many other harmful health consequences, smoking tobacco causes chemical changes, oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain. Excessive alcohol use can have similar effects. Surprisingly, however, very few studies have examined the combined impact of smoking and alcohol on the brain. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Chemical Neuroscience have shown that in rats, the joint use of tobacco and alcohol could increase neural damage in particular brain regions.

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C-Path, FARA launch Friedreich's Ataxia Clinical Database for Development of Treatments

(Critical Path Institute (C-Path)) C-Path's Data Collaboration Center and FARA announced the launch of the Friedreich's Ataxia Integrated Clinical Database. The platform will enable collaborative research and data sharing to support the understanding of natural history, biomarkers and clinical endpoints, and promote research into clinical trial design in Friedreich's ataxia. The organizations hope to enable the development of tools that will help design and interpret efficient clinical trials -- leading to effective treatments for FA as soon as possible.

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Treating mosquitoes may be a new way to fight malaria

A lab test suggests it may be possible to treat mosquitoes infected with the malaria parasite to stop disease transmission.

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For breast cancer survivors, group exercise beats personal training for quality of life

(University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus) Colorado study shows that group exercise and personal training may lead to similar physical gains, but that a specially designed class for cancer survivors incorporating group dynamics-strategies may increase quality of life beyond that of survivors using personal training.

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University of Guelph researchers uncover why environmental cues make drug addiction extra hard to beat

(University of Guelph) Besides triggering the brain's emotional and stimulus-response systems, environmental cues activate areas where memories are processed, according to this University of Guelph study. Prompting these memory processing systems makes it extra difficult to counter addiction because the classic stimulus-response mechanisms are reinforced by the memory effects of environmental drug cues. While this double effect makes it hard to treat drug abuse, this finding may offer a way to use cues to improve cognitive behavioural therapy.

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Health insurance is not assurance of healthcare

(Case Western Reserve University) Because of high out-of-pocket expenses, Ohioans who purchase subsidized health-exchange insurance often can't afford the care they need when they need it. That is a central finding of a new study from researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

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Human settlements and rainfall affect giraffe home ranges

(Penn State) Giraffes that live close to densely populated towns have larger home ranges than giraffes that live far from towns, suggesting that the giraffes in human-impacted areas need to travel longer distances -- and expend more energy -- to obtain critical resources.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2H5GP50

Researchers develop model to predict suicide risk in at-risk young adults

(University of Pittsburgh) New research from Pitt's School of Medicine shows that fluctuation and severity of depressive symptoms are much better at predicting risk of suicidal behavior in at-risk young adults.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2Nytpj9

Is prenatal vitamin use by moms associated with risk for autism spectrum disorder recurrence in young siblings?

(JAMA Network) This study examined whether prenatal vitamin use by mothers was associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) recurrence in high-risk families. The study included 241 children who were selected because a sibling was diagnosed with ASD. Mothers reported their use of prenatal vitamins during pregnancy. While most mothers reported taking prenatal vitamins while pregnant, only 87 (36 percent) mothers met the recommendations to take prenatal vitamins in the six months before pregnancy.

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Researchers 'bait' pathological proteins underlying many neurodegenerative disorders

(University of Pittsburgh) The vast majority of patients with neurodegenerative disorders do not have specific gene mutations, but a single misbehaving protein -- called TDP-43 -- seems to be at the heart of these diseases. Pitt researchers have found a way to recreate and rescue TDP-43 pathology in a dish.

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3 explanations for ‘Oumuamua that aren’t alien spaceships

Astronomers are coming up with some creative ideas to explain the weird behavior of the first known interstellar object.

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Detecting cyanide exposure

(American Chemical Society) Cyanide exposure can happen occupationally or in low levels from inhaling cigarette smoke -- or from being poisoned by someone out to get you. The effects are fast and can be deadly. But because cyanide is metabolized quickly, it can be difficult to detect in time for an antidote to be administered. Now, in an animal study in ACS' Chemical Research in Toxicology, researchers report a new precise and accurate biomarker of cyanide exposure.

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Now you see heat, now you don't

(American Chemical Society) Hiding an object from heat-sensing cameras could be useful for military and technology applications as well as for research. Efforts to develop such a method have been underway for decades with varying degrees of success. Now, researchers report in ACS Nano that they have fabricated an inexpensive, easy-to-produce film that makes objects completely invisible to infrared detectors.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2SrCJGs

Resistance training even as little as once per week benefits older individuals

(University of Jyväskylä - Jyväskylän yliopisto) Resistance training improves the health of over 65-year-olds, and the benefits occur even when some people train as little as once per week.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2GLAI6N

Predictive modeling could help fight neighborhood crime

(Washington State University) New technology developed by a Washington State University scientist could help police officers predict where burglaries are likely to occur.

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High-tech laser scans uncover hidden military traverse at Alcatraz Island

(Binghamton University) High-tech radar and laser scans have uncovered a hidden military traverse underneath the infamous Alcatraz penitentiary, according to research led by faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York.

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Super-enhancers: novel target for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

(Rapamycin Press) Among many pathways of cancer progression that PDAC relies on, anomalous activation of the sonic hedgehog pathway has shown in a variety of human cancers, including, basal cell carcinoma, malignant gliomas, medulloblastoma, leukemias, and cancers of the breast, lung, pancreas, and prostate.

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Why a common antibiotic treating diarrhea is failing

(University of Houston) Clostridioides difficile (C-diff), a bacterium that causes diarrhea and colitis, is easily picked up in hospitals, but not so easily fought. After 30 years, the most commonly prescribed antibiotic used to fight it, metronidazole, known commonly by the brand name Flagyl, is no longer as effective as it used to be and a University of Houston pharmaceutical researcher aims to find out why.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2H6a8UY

New mothers reduce their alcohol intake, but this change is short-lived

(University of Melbourne) Most women dramatically reduce their alcohol intake on learning they are pregnant, but by the time their child is five they are back to their pre-pregnancy drinking levels, a new international study has found.The research, led by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, reported little change in the drinking patterns of men on becoming fathers.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2H7YsRJ

High-tech laser scans uncover hidden military traverse at Alcatraz Island

(Binghamton University) High-tech radar and laser scans have uncovered a hidden military traverse underneath the infamous Alcatraz penitentiary, according to research led by faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York.

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Oldest frog relative found in North America

(Virginia Tech) A team of paleontologists led by Virginia Tech's Michelle Stocker and Sterling Nesbitt of the Department of Geosciences have identified fossil fragments of what are thought to be the oldest known frogs in North America.

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Extreme elements push the boundaries of the periodic table

The hunt for the next elements on the periodic table might turn up superheavy atoms that flaunt the rules of chemistry.

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UTSA funded to develop accident tolerant nuclear fuels

(University of Texas at San Antonio) Almost eight years have passed since the accident at the nuclear power plant in Fukushima, Japan, in which thousands of residents have yet to return to their homes. Now the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has tapped The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and other research institutes across the U.S. and abroad to assist with the development of new, accident tolerant fuels (ATF) that will permit nuclear plants to better sustain accidents like the one in 2011.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2XnFHj7

Batmobile with cruise control

(Forschungsverbund Berlin) A new study led by scientists at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) investigated the energy requirements and travel speeds of migrating Nathusius' bats (Pipistrellus nathusii).

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2H0TYwl

How listening to music 'significantly impairs' creativity

(Lancaster University) The popular view that music enhances creativity has been challenged by researchers who say it has the opposite effect.Psychologists investigated the impact of background music on performance by presenting people with verbal insight problems that are believed to tap creativity. They found that background music 'significantly impaired' people's ability to complete tasks testing verbal creativity -- but there was no effect for background library noise.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2VoSPSX

3D printed tool cuts through titanium, wins innovation prize

(RMIT University) High quality cutting tools can now be 3D printed, potentially saving time and money for aerospace and Defence manufacturers.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2H5p2La

How young adults experience pain affects self-injury, Rutgers study finds

(Rutgers University) Teen-agers and young adults who intentionally hurt themselves engage in such behavior based, in part, on how they experience pain and their emotional distress, according to a Rutgers study.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2TkRgbA

ACTG presents new research on HIV and TB, co-morbidities, treatment, and cure at CROI 2019

(University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences) The AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG), the world's largest and longest-established HIV research network, funded by NIAID at the U.S. NIH, will make 11 oral and 19 poster presentations at CROI 2019 (Seattle, March 4-7). Several have the potential to influence clinical practice and guidelines for care.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2EAtlNb

Why do innocent people plead guilty?

(University of Massachusetts Lowell) A new, five-year $498,000 National Science Foundation CAREER grant will allow UMass Lowell's Miko Wilford, a psychology professor from Dracut, to study why defendants opt for plea deals.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2StAm67

New method uses AI to screen for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

(University of Southern California) Scientists at the University of Southern California (USC), Queen's University (Ontario) and Duke University have developed a new tool that can screen children for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) quickly and affordably, making it accessible to more children in remote locations worldwide.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2EgeyG0

Army lab, industry announce partnership to develop new materials

(U.S. Army Research Laboratory) The Army and a major defense contractor established a new research partnership to create novel materials to further enhance the devices and technology used by warfighters.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2XqScu0

How economic inequality shapes mobility expectations and behavior in disadvantaged youth

(Boston College) By integrating the methods and techniques of economics and psychology, an inventive framework reveals how rising economic inequality can weaken the motivating belief that achieving socioeconomic success is possible, which reduces the likelihood that young people from low socioeconomic status backgrounds will engage in behaviors that could improve their chances of upward mobility. Based on this interdisciplinary approach, policy recommendations that would advance mobility opportunities are proposed.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2VpHfY1

Researcher finds data-driven evidence on warrior vs. guardian policing

(Florida State University) A Florida State University-led team of researchers has created a model to measure the differences between two distinct approaches to policing -- the warrior approach and the guardian approach.

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PCORI Board approves $2.8 million to support implementation of findings

(Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute) The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Board of Governors today approved $2.8 million to fund two projects designed to speed the use of results of PCORI-funded studies into practice. The Board also approved a PCORnet funding announcement and adopted new methodology standards.

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A long handshake can spread your DNA to objects you didn’t touch

Two new studies show that even brief contact with another person or object could transfer your DNA far and wide.

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Savoring ... It's not just for dinner

(University of Arizona) Just as we can savor a decadent dessert, so, too, can we savor a meaningful conversation. And the latter may be better for us. University of Arizona researcher Maggie Pitts studies the role of 'savoring' in human communication.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2ExP6wV

You recognize your face even when you don't 'see' it

(Association for Psychological Science) Given the limited capacity of our attention, we only process a small amount of the sights, sounds, and sensations that reach our senses at any given moment -- what happens to the stimuli that reach our senses but don't enter awareness? Research suggests that certain stimuli -- specifically, your own face -- can influence how you respond without you being aware of it. The findings are published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association of Psychological Science.

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Online intervention shows promise in HIV prevention

(University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing) A team led by José Bauermeister, Ph.D., M.P.H., Presidential Professor of Nursing and Director of the Program on Sexuality, Technology, & Action Research (PSTAR), at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing) designed the My Desires & Expectations (myDEx) tool to address cognitive and emotional factors that influence YGBMSM sexual decision-making when seeking partners online. myDEx was pilot tested in a randomized trial over 90 days with 180 YGBMSM participants.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2H2C8sF

Study reveals that night and weekend births have substantially higher risk of delivery complications

(Society for Risk Analysis) As if expecting mothers didn't have enough to worry about, a new study published in Risk Analysis: An International Journal found that the quantity of delivery complications in hospitals are substantially higher during nights, weekends and holidays, and in teaching hospitals.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2tEMJ5p

Electronic 'word of mouth' useful in detecting, predicting fashion trends

(University of Missouri-Columbia) According to new research from the University of Missouri, social media hashtags could be the tool fashion designers use to forecast trends in the industry to better connect with consumers.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2H47srd

New gene variation which causes MND discovered in novel biological pathway

(University of Sheffield) Scientists have discovered a new gene varitation that causes motor neurone disease (MND) in a novel biological pathway that until now hasn't been linked with neurodegeneration.

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Review suggests a reciprocal relationship between obesity and self-control

(Cell Press) In a review published Feb. 26 in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences, researchers explore the age-old chicken-or-the-egg conundrum but this time looking at whether obesity reduces self-control or if reduced self-control leads to obesity. The authors argue that the short answer is both, and it is largely due to activity in the prefrontal cortex, which is not only affected by our dietary choices, but can also influence it.

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'Ibiza is different', genetically

(Universitat Pompeu Fabra - Barcelona) 'Ibiza is different.' That is what the hundreds of standard-bearers of the 'hippie' movement who visited the Pitiusan Island during the 60s thought, fascinated by its climate and its unexplored nature. What they did not imagine was that the utmost unique feature of the island was in its inhabitants.

from EurekAlert! - Archaeology https://ift.tt/2U8XlVF

Improved outlook for people of African descent with treatment-resistant schizophrenia

(Cardiff University) A study led by researchers at Cardiff University means that more people of African descent who have treatment-resistant schizophrenia could be safely given the drug best proven to manage their symptoms.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2Nu2R2G

Cancer survivors see mostly positives in how they have changed

(Ohio State University) Two years after diagnosis, breast cancer survivors have four times more positive than negative thoughts about changes they experienced because of their illness, a new study found.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2GMvM1l

Student-led rheumatology interest group increases interest in field

(George Washington University) A group of student and faculty researchers from the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences published outcome of establishing Rheumatology Interest Group in the International Journal of Rheumatology.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2NtECBz

Maternal smoking during pregnancy increases risk of ADHD among offspring up to 3-fold

(University of Turku) The higher the cotinine levels were in the mother's blood during pregnancy, the greater was the child's risk of developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) later in life, showed an epidemiological study conducted by the Research Centre for Child Psychiatry at the University of Turku, Finland. Globally, it is the first study in which the connection between fetal nicotine exposure and diagnosis of ADHD was shown by measuring cotinine levels from pregnant maternal serum specimens.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2GMZTWx

Neuroscientists at TU Dresden discover neural mechanisms of developmental dyslexia

(Technische Universität Dresden) Neuroscientist Professor Katharina von Kriegstein from TU Dresden and an international team of experts show in a recently published study that people with dyslexia have a weakly developed structure that is not located in the cerebral cortex, but at a subcortical processing stage; namely the white matter connectivity between the left auditory motion-sensitive planum temporale (mPT) and the left auditory thalamus (medial geniculate body, MGB).

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Springer Nature expands its nanotechnology research solution with the inclusion of over 22 million patents

(Springer) A new module has now been added to the nanotechnology research database Nano. The patent module allows users to sort through over 22 million nano-related patents across all major jurisdictions and languages. This means that researchers can find patents from areas highly affected by nanotechnology, narrow their search by country, filing year and jurisdiction, and ultimately demonstrate the scientific and commercial value of their project and its anticipated impact.

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Accompanying research to start on the test area for autonomous driving

(Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) ) On the Baden-Württemberg Test Area for Autonomous Driving, research projects carried out under real conditions are to yield valuable findings for the development of automated driving. Within the 'bwirkt' project, research will focus on the impacts of these projects on automated and networked driving. Recommendations for science, industry, and politics will be derived. Researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology will concentrate on the impacts on traffic.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2NtRbwM

First common risk genes discovered for autism

(Aarhus University) A study headed by researchers from the Danish project iPSYCH and the Broad Institute, USA, has found the first common genetic risk variants for autism and uncovered genetic differences in clinical subgroups of autism. The discovery means that we will in future be able to determine the genes which separate the diagnostic groups, make more precise diagnoses, and provide better counselling for the individual person suffering from autism disorders.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2GK3aWt

THC found more important for therapeutic effects in cannabis than originally thought

(University of New Mexico) Researchers at the University of New Mexico recently solved a major gap in scientific literature by using mobile software technology to measure the real-time effects of actual cannabis-based products used by millions of people every day.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2Nyl2V2

Indigenous knowledge, key to a successful ecosystem restoration

(Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona) Ecological restoration projects actively involving indigenous peoples and local communities are more successful. This is the result of a study carried out by the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB), which places value on indigenous and local knowledge contribution in the restoring of degraded ecosystems, and highlights the need to engage them in these projects for ensuring a long-term maintenance of restored areas.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2Ez4FEQ

Binghamton University to establish Institute for Social Justice for Women and Girls

(Binghamton University) A seven-figure gift from alumna and world-renowned psychologist Ellyn Uram Kaschak will help establish the Institute for Social Justice for Women and Girls at Binghamton University, State University of New York.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2VsxXur

Inherited mutations may play a role in pancreatic cancer development

(Johns Hopkins Medicine) A small, retrospective study has found that, in patients with particular pancreatic duct lesions, the presence of an inherited mutation in a pancreatic cancer susceptibility gene may increase the patients' risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2EeYunM

Face it -- our faces don't always reveal our true emotions

(University of California - Berkeley) When it comes to reading a person's state of mind, visual context -- as in background and action -- is just as important as facial expressions and body language, according to a new study from the University of California, Berkeley.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2T22jXT

Blinking ground lights developed to ensure pedestrian traffic safety

(National Research Council of Science & Technology) The Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT, President Seung Heon Han) has announced the development of its 'next-generation pedestrian traffic accident prevention system.' The system induces motor vehicles approaching crosswalks to reduce their speed, thereby reducing pedestrians' traffic accidents. In particular, it is effective in ensuring the safety of pedestrians using smartphones, the elderly and people with cognitive impairment.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2Ez4BoA

With its burning grip, shingles can do lasting damage

Varicella zoster virus, which causes chickenpox and shingles, may instigate several other problems.

from Latest Headlines | Science News https://ift.tt/2H5qn4D

Exposing flaws in metrics for user login systems

(Rutgers University) How good is the research on the success or failure of the system that verifies your identity when you log into a computer, smartphone or other device? Chances are it's not good, and that's a major security and privacy issue that should be fixed, according to a Rutgers University-New Brunswick study that proposes a novel solution.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2GMutQ2

‘Mama’s Last Hug’ showcases the emotional lives of animals

In ‘Mama’s Last Hug,’ Frans de Waal argues that emotions occur throughout the animal world.

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How do professional football players perform under immense pressure?

(KU Leuven) Professional football players need to keep a cool head during a match, but some are better at this than others. Cristiano Ronaldo seems to be immune to pressure, while Neymar's performance crumbles under it. It's one of the remarkable findings of a study conducted by Belgian university KU Leuven and data intelligence company SciSports. They're presenting their results at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in Boston in March.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2VhyNda

'Silent-type' cells play greater role in brain behavior than previously thought

(NYU Langone Health / NYU School of Medicine) Brain cells recorded as among the least electrically active during a specific task may be the most important to doing it right.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2GKoStu

Maasai farmers only kill lions when they attack livestock

(University of Exeter) Maasai farmers do not kill lions for retribution whenever they lose sheep or cattle, new research shows.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2NudyCi

New study shows use of medication abortion rebounded in Texas after FDA label change

(University of Texas at Austin) Proportion of medication abortion plummeted after House Bill 2, bounced back after FDA label change on abortion medication mifepristone.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2BSzwdA

National MS Society funds Kessler Foundation pilot study of social interaction in MS

(Kessler Foundation) Individuals with MS often show impairments in learning and experience difficulties during social interactions. The ability to learn from the outcomes of one's actions (outcome processing), plays a critical role in choosing the optimal action. Poor outcome processing can adversely impact an individual's choices made in social environments and during social interactions, including rehabilitation settings. Despite the critical implications for individuals with these deficits, this is the first study to examine outcome processing during social interactions in individuals with MS.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2Nt0Zr1

For young adult cancer survivors, debt and work-related impairments

(University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus) One of the largest-ever studies of work-related risks in young adult cancer survivors finds that of 872 survivors, 14.4 percent borrowed more than $10,000 and 1.5 percent said they or their family had filed for bankruptcy as a direct result of illness or treatment.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2tEKheW

A disconnect between migrants' stories and their health

(Ohio State University) While some Mexican immigrants give positive accounts about migrating to and living in the United States, their health status tells a different story. In a small study in Columbus, researchers found that many migrants celebrated living in Columbus. However, they also experienced discrimination and exhibited physical signs of stress, such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar and obesity.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2GMIRri

Jacob Job lands grant from the National Geographic Society to study songbirds, humans

(Colorado State University) In April 2019, Colorado State University's Jacob Job will embark on a new adventure to track migratory songbirds, thanks to a grant from the National Geographic Society.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2Nt0TQb

Identifying barriers to care for women with endometriosis

(Society for Women's Health Research) An expert review by a Society for Women's Health Research working group identifies areas of need in endometriosis to improve a woman's diagnosis, treatment, and access to quality care. Barriers to care include societal normalization of women's pain, stigma around menstrual issues, lack of knowledge and awareness about endometriosis, limitations of current diagnostic and treatment options, and difficulties in accessing care.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2Eyfc33

The world’s largest bee has been rediscovered after 38 years

Researchers rediscovered the world’s largest bee living in the forests of an island of Indonesia.

from Latest Headlines | Science News https://ift.tt/2Vn1lSL

New research casts doubt on cause of Angkor's collapse

(University of Sydney) New University of Sydney research has revealed the ancient Cambodian city of Angkor underwent a gradual decline in occupation rather than an abrupt collapse.

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Neanderthals walked upright just like the humans of today

(University of Zurich) Neanderthals are often depicted as having straight spines and poor posture. However, these prehistoric humans were more similar to us than many assume. University of Zurich researchers have shown that Neanderthals walked upright just like modern humans -- thanks to a virtual reconstruction of the pelvis and spine of a very well-preserved Neanderthal skeleton found in France.

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Ancient poop helps show climate change contributed to fall of Cahokia

(University of Wisconsin-Madison) A new study shows climate change may have contributed to the decline of Cahokia, a famed prehistoric city near present-day St. Louis. And it involves ancient human poop.

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Ancient Angkor’s mysterious decline may have been slow, not sudden

Analyzing sediment from the massive city’s moat challenges the idea that the last capital of the Khmer Empire collapsed suddenly.

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Some personal beliefs and morals may stem from genetics

(Penn State) Penn State researchers found that while parents can help encourage their children to develop into responsible, conscientious adults, there is an underlying genetic factor that influences these traits, as well.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2GIgPxj

Study: Political parties sideline minority voters, leave other orgs to pick up the slack

(San Francisco State University) Political parties sideline minority voters, and leave other organizations to pick up the slack. Outreach by nonpartisan institutions increases nonwhite voter participation.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2ICat4b

Younger Americans much more likely to be arrested than previous generations

(RAND Corporation) One possible byproduct of the of the nation's zero-tolerance criminal justice policies may be a trend that finds that Americans under the age of 26 are much more likely to be arrested than Americans born in previous decades. A new study finds the increase in arrests occurred most rapidly among white men and all women, and is linked to a lower likelihood of being married and lower income during adulthood.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2BNHjcr

Bentham Science launches animated abstracts -- A new exciting venture in publishing!

(Bentham Science Publishers) Extend the scope and visibility of your research by creating an animated abstract. Bentham Science has collaborated with Focus Medica, one of the world's largest publishers of expert animated atlases and videos in medicine and science.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2U6SRyT

Public lecture on sleep and the brain, press room, and more: CNS 2019 only 4 weeks away

(Cognitive Neuroscience Society) "Sleep is the single most effective thing that you can do to reset your brain and body health." That's the message Matthew Walker of the University of California, Berkeley, will deliver in a public lecture to kick off the 26th annual meeting of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society (CNS). The CNS 2019 conference -- only 4 weeks away -- will bring together more than 1,500 scientists at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco, March 23-26.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2BNHKU7

Belief in conspiracy theories makes people more likely to engage in low-level crime

(University of Kent) People who believe in conspiracy theories -- such as the theory that Princess Diana was murdered by the British establishment -- are more likely to accept or engage in everyday criminal activity.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2BSdAiR

People with chronic pain are coping with the help of Pinterest, new study reveals

(Virginia Commonwealth University) A new study by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University that analyzed 502 posts on Pinterest about chronic pain revealed that the social media platform is helping people with chronic pain cope by sharing self-care and pain-management tips, venting about their pain's severity, and supporting others who are similarly suffering.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2Iz9eTq

Fewer hospital programs address opioid abuse, Ohio University study finds

(Ohio University) The damage done to America's health by the opioid epidemic is well-recognized and enormous, with drug overdose death rates helping to drive down US life expectancy in recent years. Yet as the problem has worsened, American hospitals collectively have seen a loss of programs dealing with substance abuse.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2EaONH1

Urban parks could make you happier

(University of Alabama at Birmingham) UAB researchers found spending 20 minutes in an urban park will make someone happier -- whether they are engaging in exercise or not during the visit.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2ILAy0G

Over half of home health care clinicians say they lack adequate information from hospitals

(University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus) A survey of Colorado home health care clinicians (HHCs) revealed that 60 percent said they had not received enough information to guide patient treatment while 52 percent said patients often had unrealistic expectations of the kind of care they would receive.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2IxkmQz

Migrants face a trade-off between status and fertility

(University of Helsinki) Researchers from the universities of Helsinki, Turku and Missouri as well as the Family Federation of Finland present the first results from a new, extraordinarily comprehensive population-wide dataset that details the lives of over 160,000 World War II evacuees in terms of integration. The results demonstrate that migrants' integration into a host community involves a trade-off between gaining increased social status and having fewer children.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2VjKFLM

Federal fire grant spending could be more balanced, new model suggests

(University at Buffalo) The federal government considers many factors when spending money to prevent structure fires. The key driver, however, is economic losses -- the greater the cost of fire within a state, the more aid that state is likely to receive. A new model emphasizes an additional factor: losses associated with human fatalities and injuries. That tweak throws the current system off-track, suggesting that some states receive an outsized share of fire protection money, while others are shortchanged.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2U8PuYi

Fetal growth inhibited by cocktail of chemicals in the mother

(Aarhus University) For the first time, researchers have shown that a combination of perfluorinated substances in the mother significantly inhibits child growth. These are the substances which Denmark's minister for environment and food is currently working to ban.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2VjZZYN

An educational program designed to lessen the risk of falls in children

(University of Seville) The programme Safe Fall- Safe Schools© establishes a methodology that is suitable for different ages of students, centred on progression by levels and types of fall (backwards, sideways and forwards), in which the child, goes from being a passive to an active participant. The programme is thought out to be implemented in PE classes, with between five and ten minutes in each PE class being given over to doing exercises simulating falls.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2EtUbWY

New clues about why non-smokers, as well as smokers, develop chronic lung disease revealed

(University of Leicester) A group of researchers led by the universities of Leicester and Nottingham has discovered genetic differences that put some people at higher risk than others of developing chronic lung disease.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2Ixkbon

Google translates doctor's orders into Spanish and Chinese with few significant errors

(University of California - San Francisco) In multicultural areas like San Francisco, doctors are increasingly looking to Google Translate to provide written instructions their patients can take home, so they stand a better chance of following medical advice. But is Translate trustworthy? Researchers at UC San Francisco say the answer is yes -- with some caveats.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2IzyARi

Money-savers focus attention -- and eyes -- on the prize

(Duke University) Why can some people patiently save for the future, while others opt for fewer dollars now? A new Duke University study reaches some surprising conclusions. Saving takes patience -- forgoing instant rewards for larger, delayed rewards. Yet 'patient savers' don't slowly weigh options and aren't necessarily better at resisting temptation. Instead, choosing between less money now or more later, savers focus on the dollar amounts, quickly ruling out other factors -- as their eye movements reveal.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2IzyxoA

Memories of movement are replayed randomly during sleep

(Institute of Science and Technology Austria) After a rat has repeatedly moved from one spot to another, the same neurons that fired while the rat moved 'replay' this firing while the rat is asleep. Previously, it was thought that replay patterns only correspond to trips rats had made repeatedly while awake. Writing in Neuron today, scientists at IST Austria show that also when rats roam around freely, the hippocampus replays during sleep, but it does so in a random manner.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2ThDu9E

Health literacy can promote older people's health

(University of Jyväskylä - Jyväskylän yliopisto) A new study on older Finnish people's health literacy found that one third of 75-year-old Finns find it difficult to understand and use health-related information.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2TeFO0T

Be yourself at work -- It's healthier and more productive

(Rice University) At work, it's healthier and more productive just to be yourself, according to a new study from Rice University, Texas A&M University, the University of Memphis, Xavier University, Portland State University and the University of California, Berkeley.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2IC8xcd

UVA discovers secret to making immune cells better cancer killers

(University of Virginia Health System) Scientists have discovered a defect in immune cells known as 'killer T cells' that explains their inability to destroy cancer tumors. The researchers believe that repairing this defect could make the cells much better cancer killers.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2Tb0vLr

Life's transitions easier with a sense of a well-rounded ending, new study shows

(New York University) We are more likely to have positive feelings about transitioning from one stage of life to the next if we have a 'well-rounded ending' -- or one marked by a sense of closure--finds a team of psychology researchers.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2IzvdK8

A gene involved in ADHD could be related to addictive substance use

(University of Barcelona) Some variations in the gene LPHN3-associated with the attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in kids and adults -- could favor likelihood to smoke, consume alcohol, cannabis and other addictive substances, according to an article published in the journal Translational Psychiatry, from the Nature Publishing Group.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2U8LHKy

Brain scans shine light on how we solve clues

(Aalto University) Partnered with machine learning, brain scans reveal how people understand objects in our world.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2Ev5j5U

New chimpanzee culture discovered

(Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology) Different cultures, different habits and different behavioral patterns -- this applies not only to humans but also to chimpanzees, one of our two closest living relatives. A team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (MPI-EVA) in Leipzig, Germany, and the University of Warsaw in Poland now describes a new 'behavioral realm' of the Eastern chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) of the Bili-Uéré region in Northern DR Congo, based on the results of a 12-year study.

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Study finds ultrasound can assess bone health, increase early screening for osteoporosis

(American Osteopathic Association) The findings could lead to lower costs and increased screening for populations at-risk for bone diseases, which study authors say extends well beyond postmenopausal women. Prior research has demonstrated strong correlations between education level and socioeconomic status and bone quality. Because of its low-cost, mobility and safety, ultrasound is a promising tool for assessing more people, across multiple demographics.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2BSgYu2

School-based health services and educational attainment

(Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation) A new article from the Prevention Research Center of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation examines relationships between availability and use of school-based health centers among adolescents and educational attainment in adulthood.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2TjhcUQ

A reward now or later? Exploring impulsivity in Parkinson's disease patients

(Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati) Promises of food, sums of money or entertaining pastimes: it does not matter what the temptation is, a new study shows that patients suffering from Parkinson's disease who are treated with DBS of the subthalamic nucleus are not more impulsive than others when making decisions about an appealing stimulus. To establish this, in the experiment the scientists placed the patients in front of a choice: have a small prize immediately or a bigger one, later.

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International team of scientists detect cause of rare pediatric brain disorder

(McGill University Health Centre) An international effort led by physician-scientists at Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine (RCIGM), in collaboration with a team at the Montreal Children's Hospital of the McGill University Health Centre (MCH-MUHC), has identified the cause of a devastating pediatric brain disorder paving the way for the first step in developing potential therapies for this rare neurodegenerative condition.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2H0tfA0

Machines whisper our secrets

(University of California - Riverside) Scientists from UC Irvine and UC Riverside showed they could reconstruct what a researcher was doing by recording the sounds of the lab instrument used. The method accurately detects what type of DNA a DNA synthesizer is making. That means academic, industrial, and government labs are potentially wide open to espionage that could destabilize research, jeopardize product development, and even put national security at risk.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2tGlW8t

Hermit crabs are drawn to the smell of their own dead

A new study finds that the smell of hermit crab flesh attracts other hermit crabs of the same species desperately looking for a larger shell.

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The FDA says don’t buy young plasma therapies. Here’s why

Infusions of plasma from young people may hold the secret of youth, but there’s not much evidence to support the idea yet.

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New marine protected area established in the Batangas Province of the Philippines

(California Academy of Sciences) The global marine community has cause to celebrate a conservation milestone in the Philippines. The Municipality of Tingloy on Maricaban Island in Batangas Province recently designated 22.01 hectares (54.4 acres) of thriving coral reef habitat as a marine protected area (MPA), only the second MPA to be established in the municipality. Located within the most biologically diverse waters on Earth, the new MPA protects against localized threats while bolstering an emerging ecotourism industry.

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Estrogen made by neurons important to making memories

(Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University) Estrogen in the brain is important to keep neurons communicating and memories being made, scientists report.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2EvuNQI

Faced with choice overload, Indian farmers say, 'I'll have what he's having'

(Purdue University) After the Indian government liberalized its economy, shops stocking a previously controlled market of public agricultural goods were suddenly flooded with new private brands. Rather than relying on data for seed yields, many farmers make socially motivated purchasing decisions.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2VjanQE

Mothers with children taken into out-of-home care at risk of poor prenatal care in next pregnancies

(Canadian Medical Association Journal) Mothers whose first child was taken into care were found to have inadequate or no prenatal care during subsequent pregnancies, according to a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).The study was conducted in the province of Manitoba, which has one of the highest rates of children in out-of-home care in developed countries. About 3 percent of children live in homes without parental caregivers compared with a rate of 1 percent of children in most developed countries.

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Incentives to downsize would ease the housing crisis

(City University London) Housing policy is too concentrated on first-time buyers and should be refocused towards 'last-time buyers' to encourage those aged 55+ to downsize, according to a new report for the Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation (CSFI).

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Sperm quality unaffected by one course of chemotherapy for early testicular cancer

(European Society for Medical Oncology) Men with early stage testicular cancer can safely receive one course of chemotherapy or radiotherapy after surgery without it having a long-term effect on their sperm count, according to a study published in Annals of Oncology. Until now, this has not been clear, although it is known already that several rounds of chemotherapy or high doses of radiotherapy given to men with more advanced testicular cancer can reduce sperm count and concentration.

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Top 10 science anniversaries to celebrate in 2019

Top 10 science anniversaries in 2019 include expeditions, treatises and tabulations.

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Exclusive breastfeeding lowers odds of some schoolchildren having eczema

(Children's National Health System) Children exclusively breastfed for the first three months of life had significantly lower odds of having eczema at age 6 compared with peers who were not breastfed or were breastfed for less time, according to preliminary research presented during the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology 2019 Annual Meeting.

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Food allergies: A research update

(Children's National Health System) Families impacted by food allergies will need psychosocial support as they try promising new therapies that enable them to ingest a food allergen daily or wear a patch that administers a controlled dose of that food allergen.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2T8H59X

Study: With Twitter, race of the messenger matters

(University of Kansas) University of Kansas journalism researchers showed real tweets about the NFL anthem protests to a group of millennials. Eye tracking software found they viewed tweets from white males the longest, but self-reported data showed they gave the most credibility to African-American males.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2Iz9a6a

Disability progression in multiple sclerosis linked to income, education

(University of British Columbia) Neighborhood income and education level is associated with risk of disability progression in patients with multiple sclerosis, suggests new research from the University of British Columbia.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2IucrUn

Hayabusa2 just tried to collect asteroid dust for the first time

The Japanese Hayabusa2 spacecraft touched down on asteroid Ryugu and attempted to gather a sample of its rock to bring back to Earth.

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Are the French lousy at languages? Not if there's noise!

(CNRS) It is often said that the French have poor English skills. But according to a study conducted by a CNRS researcher and her colleagues in the Netherlands, Finland and the UK, when it comes to process English spoken in a noisy environment like a café or a restaurant, the French have nothing to be ashamed of!

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2EnqRBq

Colliding neutron stars shot a light-speed jet through space

A stream of particles created in a neutron star crash, detected in 2017 using gravitational waves, could explain certain mysterious flashes of light.

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Good dog? Bad dog? Their personalities can change

(Michigan State University) When dog-parents spend extra time scratching their dogs' bellies, take their dogs out for long walks and games of fetch, or even when they feel constant frustration over their dogs' naughty chewing habits, they are gradually shaping their dogs' personalities.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2GDQ8K1

Older biologic age linked to elevated breast cancer risk

(NIH/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences) Biologic age, a DNA-based estimate of a person's age, is associated with future development of breast cancer, according to scientists at the National Institutes of Health. Biologic age was determined by measuring DNA methylation, a chemical modification to DNA that is part of the normal aging process. For every five years a woman's biologic age was older than her chronologic or actual age, she had a 15 percent increased risk of developing breast cancer.

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UCF study finds high IQs won't be enough to prevent ecological disasters

(University of Central Florida) High IQs aren't going to be enough to stop an ecological disaster. It's going to take social intelligence, too. That's the conclusion of a new study co-authored by a University of Central Florida researcher and published Wednesday in the journal Nature Communications.

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Virtual reality a promising tool for reducing fears and phobia in autism

(Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News) In a new pilot study, autistic adults showed real-life, functional improvement after a combination treatment approach that included graded exposure to fear and anxiety-producing experiences in a virtual reality environment.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2IvW9uc

Geographic distribution of opioid-related deaths

(JAMA Network) Identifying changes in the geographic distribution of opioid-related deaths is important, and this study analyzed data for more than 351,000 US residents who died of opioid-related causes from 1999 to 2016. Researchers report increased rates of opioid-related deaths in the eastern United States, especially from synthetic opioids. In 2016, there were 42,249 opioid-related deaths (28,498 men and 13,751 women) in the United States for an opioid-related mortality rate of 13 per 100,000 people.

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US opioid deaths jump fourfold in 20 years; epidemic shifts to Eastern states

(Stanford Medicine) Opioid-related deaths nationwide jumped fourfold in the last two decades, and the epidemic has made major inroads in the Eastern states, according to a new study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine, Harvard University and the University of Toronto.

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Clinical trial: Prenatal DHA prevents blood-pressure increase from obesity during childhood

(University of Kansas) A clinical trial at the University of Kansas and KU Medical Center finds pregnant mothers who daily consumed 600 milligrams of DHA -- an omega-3 fatty acid -- protected their offspring from the blood pressure-elevating effects of excessive weight in early childhood.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2XbyceO

African hominid fossils show ancient steps toward a two-legged stride

New Ardipithecus ramidus fossils reveal how hominids were shifting toward humanlike walking more than 4 million years ago.

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UTSA researchers examine patterns of prescription opioid misuse and other substance use

(University of Texas at San Antonio) Researchers at the University of Texas at San Antonio have studied the opioid epidemic in a representative sample from the United States and found that the majority of people misusing prescription opioids are also using other licit and illicit substances.

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A 'joint' problem: Investigating marijuana and tobacco co-use

(Medical University of South Carolina) A survey of marijuana and tobacco co-users by Medical University of South Carolina investigators found that co-users with high degree of interrelatedness between their use of the two substances had greater tobacco dependence and smoked more cigarettes per day. However, the finding of a strong link between the two substances was not universal. These findings, reported in Addictive Behaviors, suggest that highly personalized treatments are needed for co-users who want to quit smoking.

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The ancient people in the high-latitude Arctic had well-developed trade

(AKSON Russian Science Communication Association) Russian scientists studied the Zhokhov site of ancient people, which is located in the high-latitude Arctic, and described in detail the way of life of the ancient people had lived there. It turned out that, despite the sparsely populated area, the ancient people had communicated with representatives of other territories and had even exchanged various objects with them through some kind of the fairs.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2T9gdGD

Political corruption scars young voters forever, new research finds

(Bocconi University) New research by Bocconi University, Milan, finds that political corruption has a long-term scarring effect on trust in democratic institutions and on voters' behavior and that such an effect differs according to one's age cohort, with first-time voters at the time of corruption revelation still being affected 25 years later.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2NnYnu9

The ancient people in the high-latitude Arctic had well-developed trade

(AKSON Russian Science Communication Association) Russian scientists studied the Zhokhov site of ancient people, which is located in the high-latitude Arctic, and described in detail the way of life of the ancient people had lived there. It turned out that, despite the sparsely populated area, the ancient people had communicated with representatives of other territories and had even exchanged various objects with them through some kind of the fairs.

from EurekAlert! - Archaeology https://ift.tt/2T9gdGD

Scientists find routine allomaternal nursing in an Old World monkey

(Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters) A team of scientists led by Professor Li Ming at the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences found widespread allomaternal nursing behavior in an Old World monkey, the golden snub-nosed monkey. Based on more than eight years of field observation of infants and their mothers at Shennongjia National Park, Central China, as well as analysis of the monkeys' reproductive histories, the study provides the first evidence of regular allomaternal nursing in golden snub-nosed monkeys.

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Studying species interactions using remote camera traps

(Forschungsverbund Berlin) In a recent study carried out by researchers from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) in Germany and University of California, Davis, USA, the scientists explored to what extent camera trap data are suitable to assess subtle species interactions such as avoidance in space and time. The study is published in the international journal Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2tA7TBn

Potential of strategic partnerships to form a Health Equity Network of the Americas (HENA)

(University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences) Recognizing the persistence of health inequities in the Americas, an emerging Health Equity Network of the Americas (HENA) describes its approach to promoting health equity through intersectoral partnerships in a newly released issue of Ethnicity & Disease.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2XbjvZc

ETRI won AVSS contest on traffic surveillance technology

(National Research Council of Science & Technology) A vehicle recognition technology for traffic surveillance developed by South Korea's Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) won an international contest. ETRI announced that its researchers ranked first and third respectively, in the vehicle detection section of the international competition hosted by Advanced Video and Signal-based Surveillance (AVSS), the world's largest video security conference. The event was held in Auckland, New Zealand, for four days starting from November 27, 2018.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2GXF49S

CEOs make money from negative information released prior to stock option grants

(Lehigh University) Stock options are often used to align the interests of stakeholders and CEOs, as both benefit when share price rises. New research shows, however, that companies release more negative news during the period immediately before stock options are granted to their CEOs, which financially benefits the CEOs. CEOs, who control the release and tenor of the information, see higher future gains when options are granted while the share price is lower.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2Xd5bQ5

Supernovas show the universe expands at the same rate in all directions

Analyzing supernovas indicates that expansion rates agree within 1 percent across large regions of sky.

from Latest Headlines | Science News https://ift.tt/2T8d0r6

Could blockchain ensure integrity of clinical trial data?

(University of California - San Francisco) UC San Francisco researchers have created a proof-of-concept method for ensuring the integrity of clinical trials data with blockchain. The system creates an immutable audit trail that makes it easy to spot any tampering with results -- such as making the treatment look more effective or diminishing side effects. The research will be published Feb. 22 in Nature Communications.

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Grant funds opioid addiction treatment in two county jails

(University of Massachusetts at Amherst) In what could serve as a model for tackling one of the nation's top public health crises, a University of Massachusetts Amherst epidemiology researcher is teaming up with two Western Massachusetts sheriff's offices to design, implement and study an opioid treatment program for jail detainees in Franklin and Hampshire counties.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2XiLhD1

A ban on artificial trans fats in NYC restaurants appears to be working

New Yorkers’ levels of artificial trans fats dropped, especially in people who ate out the most, after a citywide ban on the fats in restaurant foods.

from Latest Headlines | Science News https://ift.tt/2GWoU0v

Handwriting: The foodie font of love

(Ohio State University) For restaurants, conveying a sense of love could be as simple as picking a different menu font. A recent study found that when restaurant diners read healthy food options printed on the menu in a typeface that appears handwritten, they were more likely to believe that the menu options were better for their bodies, made of better ingredients, and prepared with more care than healthy menu items printed in machine-style fonts.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2T79Fbz

New in the Hastings Center Report, January-February 2019

(The Hastings Center) Social media as a bioethics issue: several articles examine concerns raised by integrating social media platforms and artificial intelligence into medical practice, research, and public health.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2NleWHd

Smartphones help UB researcher better understand the nature of depression and anxiety

(University at Buffalo) A University at Buffalo psychologist's research using smartphones is providing valuable data in real time, information that could provide treatment benefits for patients struggling with anxiety and depression.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2U0Ya2N

NJIT's Sagnik Basuray is named a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors

(New Jersey Institute of Technology) Basuray is among 66 academic inventors elected to the inaugural class of NAI Senior Members, a group that includes active faculty, scientists and administrators with success in patents, licensing and commercialization.

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In small groups, people follow high-performing leaders

(NYU Tandon School of Engineering) Researchers at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering have cracked the code on how leaders arise from small groups of people over time. The work is detailed in a study, 'Social information and Spontaneous Emergence of Leaders in Human Groups,' published in The Royal Society Interface. The team included Maurizio Porfiri, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and of biomedical engineering at NYU Tandon and Shinnosuke Nakayama, postdoctoral researcher at NYU Tandon.

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The world’s largest bee has been rediscovered after 38 years

Researchers rediscovered the world’s largest bee living in the forests of an island of Indonesia.

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Dueling dates for a huge eruption reignite the debate over dinosaurs’ death

New dating techniques for the Deccan Traps volcanic eruptions disagree on whether they were the main culprit in the dinosaurs’ demise.

from Latest Headlines | Science News https://ift.tt/2TXeOAo

10 percent of Chinese adults have high heart disease risk, aren't treated for it

(Yale University) Researchers at Yale and at the National Center for Cardiovascular Disease in China just quantified a significant opportunity to improve Chinese heart health: 1 in 10 middle-aged Chinese adults are at high risk for heart disease, yet only about 3 percent of those at-risk are taking either statins or aspirin, the recommended therapies for managing that risk. This study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Height gap with parents, not genetics, determines onset of puberty -- Ben-Gurion U. study

(American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev) 'A child who hits puberty earlier than his peers, but at a time consistent with a parental height gap model, should be considered 'healthy',' Dr. Limony says. 'We believe having the ability to determine normal ranges more accurately will reduce the need for unnecessary diagnostic procedures and help doctors better explain the emergence of early- or late-onset puberty to concerned parents.'

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2Iri7P2

Dr. Dobryakova of Kessler Foundation is the recipient of INS 2019 Early Career Award

(Kessler Foundation) Dr. Dobryakova conducts clinical research in populations with cognitive dysfunction caused by traumatic brain injury and multiple sclerosis. She incorporates functional neuroimaging in her research, which focuses on the activity of the fronto-striatal network in fatigue and outcome processing in these populations. Her findings indicate that noninvasive, nonpharmacologic interventions may be useful for addressing deficits in learning processes, and in ameliorating the impact of debilitating cognitive fatigue.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2GEeKma

Believing in yourself can backfire when investing in equity crowdfunded ventures

(Indiana University) Normally, it's good to believe in yourself. But research from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business indicates that it can be bad advice for amateurs investing online in unregulated, sometimes risky, equity crowdfunded ventures.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2tyHB2y

Report offers evidence-based recommendations aimed at reducing Illinois gun violence

(Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health) Ilinois could reduce the number of people killed each year by gun violence by implementing ten policies supported by available research, according to a new report authored by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research. The center is based at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2GRZm4O

Smoking cessation may reduce risk of rheumatoid arthritis

(Brigham and Women's Hospital) Analysis of data from the Nurses' Health Studies demonstrates for first time that behavior change can delay or even prevent the most severe form of rheumatoid arthritis.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2EmSieA

Women with more social support are less likely to die, new study finds

(George Mason University) In the largest study to explore the impact of perceived social support on cardiovascular disease and mortality, George Mason University College of Health and Human Services finds postmenopausal women aged 50-79 with higher perceived social support were modestly less likely to die during the course of the study; no significant link found between increased social support and CVD.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2SRzVYj

Dermal disruption: Amphibian skin bacteria is more diverse in cold, variable environments

(Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute) Researchers swabbed more than 2300 animals representing 205 amphibian species to better understand the ecology of their skin bacteria. They asked which environmental factors influence the makeup of their microbiomes and how might the makeup of their microbiomes be important to amphibian health and survival?

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2DZWJe9

How to treat depression in prison -- and why it matters

(Michigan State University) Of the 4 million prisoners released each year, 23 percent have suffered from major depressive disorder. Due to resource shortages, many go without adequate treatment while in prison. Oftentimes they rejoin society in worse mental shape than before their incarceration - which could be prevented with the right care. A team led by Michigan State University has found a cost-effective way to improve mental health in prisons.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2SQIGSh

Fifteen-thousand-year friendship between hound and human under the microscope

(University of Copenhagen) EVOLUTION It is often remarked that 'dogs look like their owners'. Might there be more to the assertion than believed? A new research project at the University of Copenhagen will examine the DNA of prehistoric dogs and humans to identify shared traits and differences in the genetic development of these two species.

from EurekAlert! - Archaeology https://ift.tt/2GDgZWL

Foxes were domesticated by humans in the Bronze Age

(FECYT - Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology) In the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula, between the third and second millennium BC, a widespread funeral practice consisted in burying humans with animals. Scientists have discovered that both foxes and dogs were domesticated, as their diet was similar to that of their owners.

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Danish researchers behind AI-driven customer support in a class of its own

(University of Copenhagen) In just one year, researchers from the University of Copenhagen's Department of Computer Science have developed an advanced customer service and support system built on artificial intelligence and provided it to several Danish companies. The project has just been awarded a one million kroner Grand Solutions grant from Innovation Fund Denmark.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2IrfCMz

New collaboration will improve sustainability of food and agricultural production

(University of Copenhagen) A new strategic agreement between the University of Copenhagen and the analytics company FOSS will use machine learning, spectroscopy and structural analysis, among other things, to develop improved analysis methods for food and agricultural production.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2Tawyej

The safety guide to nuclear plant design and operation

(World Scientific) Nuclear safety is methodically established through science and simulation in compliance with government regulations. This book explains the related development practices and technical bases of safety cases addressing the siting and operation of nuclear power plants. Contributors are nuclear safety specialists involved in civilian or naval nuclear power programs. They also share a connection with Professor Larry Hochreiter, a nuclear safety pioneer, for whom this book is dedicated.

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New weapon to combat counterfeit goods: use your smartphone to check for fake merchandise

(University of Copenhagen) Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have invented a chemical fingerprint that, when used with a phone app, reveals whether a product is genuine or a fake. The fingerprints have been tested and earned a 100 percent success rate.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2GVFAFB

Study examines individuals' willingness to use artificial intelligence in career choices

(Wiley) Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the way we do business, and it can potentially allow firms to improve their decision making, given that individuals are willing to adopt algorithms in decision-making contexts. A new Managerial and Decision Economics study indicates that cognitive perceptions play an important role on such willingness.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2Iw7Elg

Study links unhealthy diet to mental illness in California adults

(Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center) The study, published Feb. 16, 2019 in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, revealed that California adults who consumed more unhealthy food were also more likely to report symptoms of either moderate or severe psychological distress than their peers who consume a healthier diet.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2IrE3Jz

A missing gene makes a big difference in patients' recovery from mild stroke

(University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences) UCLA neuroscientists found that patients born without a gene called CCR5 recover better from mild stroke. The discovery could lead to the first pill to reverse the physical and mental aftermath of the disease.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2NiItRN

Research shows for the first time how we use others' viewpoints to make decisions

(University of Plymouth) Everyday life is full of situations that require us to take others' perspectives. Now new research by the University of Plymouth has provided the first direct evidence that we can do this because we spontaneously form mental images of how the world looks to the other person, so that we can virtually see through their eyes and make judgements as if it was what we were seeing.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2T9rHtP

How news coverage of terrorism may shape support for anti-Muslim policies

(Wiley) Terrorist attacks committed by the so-called Islamic State are rising in Western countries. A new Political Psychology study indicates that how the news media portray these attacks may influence emotional responses and support for anti-Muslim policies such as immigration bans.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2EmdmCe

Social connectedness may help victims of cyberbullying

(Wiley) A new Psychology in the Schools study found that social connectedness may act as a protective buffer against the negative mental health effects of cyberbullying.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2V8kGqt

Is the drug overdose epidemic unique to the United States?

(Wiley) Is the current American drug overdose epidemic an isolated phenomenon? Have other high-income countries experienced similar increases in drug overdose mortality, or are they likely to going forward? A new study published in Population and Development Review addresses these questions.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2V8kEPn

The dollar store diet: Study shows discount produce matches quality of traditional chains

(University of Nevada, Las Vegas) When you hear about dollar-discount stores, the first thought that comes to mind likely isn't groceries for you and your family. But it might be time to consider dollar-discount stores as a stop for your grocery needs, says a new UNLV study, which found that the quality of fruits and vegetables at dollar stores is just as good as regular grocery store produce.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2EkPwXi

Certain factors linked with higher risk of infection after orthopaedic surgery

(Wiley) In an International Wound Journal study of 4,818 older patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgeries, five risk factors were linked with an increased risk of developing surgical site infections, including diabetes, morbid obesity, tobacco smoking, prolonged surgical duration, and lower serum albumin levels prior to surgery.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2EmIpOh

Nearly two-thirds of American children live in asset poverty, new study shows

(Oregon State University) More than 63 percent of American children and 55 percent of Americans live in 'asset' poverty, meaning they have few or no assets to rely on in the event of a financial shock such as a job loss, a medical crisis or the recent federal government shutdown.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2E31tzs

Tools to help seriously ill patients near death make decisions about their care aren't commonly used in routine practice

(The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice) Many seriously ill people in the United States -- and around the world -- are not dying as they would like. Yet, a new study led by Dartmouth Institute Ph.D. student Catherine Saunders found that although there are dozens of tools available to help people make difficult decisions near the end of their lives, they are of varying quality and very few are actually available for patients and families to use in hospitals.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2E31rYm

Student likeability might be link between academic success and risk of depression

(University of Missouri-Columbia) A new study suggests that children doing well in classrooms are more popular and emotionally secure than their peers who are having trouble academically.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2TaTfPu