ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

---

• Bacterial diversity's shelf life longer than previously expected
• TBI is associated with increased dementia risk for decades after injury
• Stellar embryos in nearby dwarf galaxy contain surprisingly complex organic molecules
• For children with respiratory infections, antibiotics with narrower targets are better
• Stellar magnetism: What's behind the most brilliant lights in the sky?
• An outdoor cat can damage your sustainability cred
• It's not how you play the game, but how the dice were made
• Vitamin D3 could help heal or prevent cardiovascular damage
• Viruses prefer cultivated areas to natural areas
• Benefits of smoking cessation medications diminish over time
• The fight against tooth decay gets help with a new smart material
• Specific bacteria may change the cervix of a pregnant woman and lead to preterm birth
• Safeguarding children when sentencing mothers
• Bacteria in milk and beef linked to rheumatoid arthritis
• This is your brain: This is your brain outdoors
• Research finds early childhood program linked to degree completion at age 35
• Newborns or survivors? The unexpected matter found in hostile black hole winds
• Scientists identify brain region in mice that keeps the body from losing its balance
• Running away from carbon dioxide: The terminal connection
• Your brain reveals who your friends are
• Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing differs by patient age, insurance, race
• Applying machine learning to the universe's mysteries
• No definitive causal link between sunbed use and malignant melanoma
• Pancreatic cancer: Gene duplication explains tumor aggressiveness
• E-cigarette flavors are toxic to white blood cells, warn scientists
• Customizable, fabric-like power source for wearable electronics
• New computational method reveals chemoresistance drug targets
• UK regional weather forecasts could be improved using jet stream data
• Long-term opioid use has dropped among US military veterans
• Language is learned in brain circuits that predate humans
• Patient exposure to X-rays depends on how dentists are paid
• Giant earthquakes: Not as random as thought
• Study proves ‘muscle memory’ exists at a DNA level
• Northern European population history revealed by ancient human genomes
• Women beat expectations when playing chess against men
• Breastfeeding reduces hypertension risk
• Blood vessels-on-a-chip show anti-cancer drug effects in human cells

Bacterial diversity's shelf life longer than previously expected Posted: 30 Jan 2018 01:10 PM PST Scientists have published a study showing that bacterial diversity may stick around millions of years longer than previously thought.

TBI is associated with increased dementia risk for decades after injury Posted: 30 Jan 2018 12:22 PM PST Traumatic brain injuries increase the risk of a dementia diagnosis for more than 30 years after a trauma, though the risk of dementia decreases over time, according to a new study.

Stellar embryos in nearby dwarf galaxy contain surprisingly complex organic molecules Posted: 30 Jan 2018 12:22 PM PST The nearby dwarf galaxy known as the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is a chemically primitive place. Unlike the Milky Way, this semi-spiral collection of a few tens-of-billions of stars lacks our galaxy's rich abundance of heavy elements, like carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen. With such a dearth of heavy elements, astronomers predict that the LMC should contain a comparatively paltry amount of complex carbon-based molecules. Previous observations of the LMC seem to support that view. New observations have uncovered the surprisingly clear chemical 'fingerprints' of the complex organic molecules methanol, dimethyl ether, and methyl formate. Though previous observations found hints of methanol in the LMC, the latter two are unprecedented findings and stand as the most complex molecules ever conclusively detected outside of our galaxy.

For children with respiratory infections, antibiotics with narrower targets are better Posted: 30 Jan 2018 12:22 PM PST When doctors prescribe antibiotics for children with common respiratory infections, a more selective approach is better. A study of 30,000 children with earaches, strep throat and other common infections found that narrow-spectrum antibiotics, which act against a smaller range of bacteria, had fewer adverse effects than broad-spectrum antibiotics, which target a broader variety of bacteria. For both practical and clinical outcomes, narrow-spectrum antibiotics performed equally well or better than broad-spectrum ones, with fewer disruptions to family routines.

Stellar magnetism: What's behind the most brilliant lights in the sky? Posted: 30 Jan 2018 12:22 PM PST Space physicists have just released unprecedented detail on a bizarre phenomenon that powers the northern lights, solar flares and coronal mass ejections (the biggest explosions in our solar system).

An outdoor cat can damage your sustainability cred Posted: 30 Jan 2018 11:02 AM PST If you install solar panels on your roof and avoid dousing your lawn with chemicals and pesticides, your online peers may consider you to be environmentally friendly. But this street cred can all be erased if you let your cat roam around outdoors.

It's not how you play the game, but how the dice were made Posted: 30 Jan 2018 11:02 AM PST Over time, dice used in playing games have changed in shape and size and evolved with considerations about fairness, chance and probability.

Vitamin D3 could help heal or prevent cardiovascular damage Posted: 30 Jan 2018 11:02 AM PST A new study shows that Vitamin D3 could help restore damage to the cardiovascular system caused by diseases like hypertension and diabetes.

Viruses prefer cultivated areas to natural areas Posted: 30 Jan 2018 10:42 AM PST Cultivated areas are more affected by viral epidemics than non-cultivated areas.

Benefits of smoking cessation medications diminish over time Posted: 30 Jan 2018 09:38 AM PST A new study finds that only eight out of 100 smokers who take smoking cessation medications will have benefited from taking smoking medications after one year's time.

The fight against tooth decay gets help with a new smart material Posted: 30 Jan 2018 09:38 AM PST When patients go to the dentist to fill a cavity, they're trying to solve a problem -- not create a new one. But many dental patients get some bad news: bacteria can dig under their tooth-colored fillings and cause new cavities, called recurrent caries. U of T researchers designed a novel solution: a filling material with tiny particles containing antimicrobial drugs, designed to stop bacteria in its tracks.

Specific bacteria may change the cervix of a pregnant woman and lead to preterm birth Posted: 30 Jan 2018 09:37 AM PST New findings demonstrate that the byproducts of certain bacteria induce cervical changes which may lead to preterm birth.

Safeguarding children when sentencing mothers Posted: 30 Jan 2018 09:37 AM PST Experts are creating new resources, including films and briefings, to help criminal justice professionals improve their understanding of the impacts of maternal imprisonment. It is estimated that 17,000 children every year are affected by maternal imprisonment in England and Wales.

Bacteria in milk and beef linked to rheumatoid arthritis Posted: 30 Jan 2018 09:37 AM PST A strain of bacteria commonly found in milk and beef may be a trigger for developing rheumatoid arthritis in people who are genetically at risk, according to a new study.

This is your brain: This is your brain outdoors Posted: 30 Jan 2018 09:37 AM PST The brain acts much differently when we're outdoors compared to when we're inside the lab, a new study has found.

Research finds early childhood program linked to degree completion at age 35 Posted: 30 Jan 2018 09:37 AM PST Participating in an intensive early childhood education program from preschool to third grade is linked to higher educational attainment in mid-life, according to a new study.

Newborns or survivors? The unexpected matter found in hostile black hole winds Posted: 30 Jan 2018 09:37 AM PST The existence of large numbers of molecules in winds powered by supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies has puzzled astronomers since they were discovered more than a decade ago. Molecules trace the coldest parts of space, and black holes are the most energetic phenomena in the universe, so finding molecules in black hole winds was like discovering ice in a furnace. A new theory predicts the molecules are born in the winds with unique properties that enable them to adapt to and thrive in the hostile environment.

Scientists identify brain region in mice that keeps the body from losing its balance Posted: 30 Jan 2018 09:36 AM PST New research reveals how a small part of the brain singlehandedly steadies the body if it is thrown off balance. The study in mice found that this region accomplishes this by moving muscles in a two-step response that first widens the animal's center of gravity, and then strengthens and stabilizes its limb muscles and joints. These findings offer insight into the mechanics of how animals stay upright when unexpected changes occur beneath their feet.

Running away from carbon dioxide: The terminal connection Posted: 30 Jan 2018 09:36 AM PST Like us, fish need oxygen, and swimming through a patch of carbon dioxide turns out not to be a pleasant experience. Instead, they prefer to avoid carbon dioxide altogether. Researchers have discovered a neuronal pathway that makes this behavior possible.

Your brain reveals who your friends are Posted: 30 Jan 2018 09:36 AM PST You may perceive the world the way your friends do, according to a new study finding that friends have similar neural responses to real-world stimuli and these similarities can be used to predict who your friends are.

Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing differs by patient age, insurance, race Posted: 30 Jan 2018 09:36 AM PST A patient's age and race are associated with risk of receiving an unneeded antibiotic prescription for upper respiratory conditions caused by viruses, according to a new study. Additionally, the study found that advanced practice providers, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, are 15 percent more likely than physician providers to prescribe antibiotics to adults.

Applying machine learning to the universe's mysteries Posted: 30 Jan 2018 09:36 AM PST Physicists have demonstrated that computers are ready to tackle the universe's greatest mysteries -- they used neural networks to perform a deep dive into data simulating the subatomic particle soup that may have existed just microseconds after the big bang.

No definitive causal link between sunbed use and malignant melanoma Posted: 30 Jan 2018 09:36 AM PST A careful review of the currently available medical data shows that there is no proven causal relationship between moderate solarium use and increased melanoma risk.

Pancreatic cancer: Gene duplication explains tumor aggressiveness Posted: 30 Jan 2018 09:36 AM PST Pancreatic cancer is a form of cancer associated with the highest mortality rates in the world. Genetic changes that could explain his aggressiveness and early metastasis had not been found yet. A team has now shown that those characteristics can be explained by specific gene amplifications which occur along various evolutionary pathways of the cancer. Based on this discovery, they have derived basic principles underlying the biology of pancreatic cancer.

E-cigarette flavors are toxic to white blood cells, warn scientists Posted: 30 Jan 2018 09:32 AM PST A new study adds to growing evidence on the harmful health effects of e-cigarettes. The study finds that exposure to commonly used e-cigarette flavoring chemicals and liquids can cause significant inflammation to monocytes, a type of white blood cell. Moreover, many flavoring compounds are toxic, with cinnamon, vanilla and buttery flavors among the worst. It also finds that mixing e-cigarette flavors has a much worse effect than exposure to just one.

Customizable, fabric-like power source for wearable electronics Posted: 30 Jan 2018 06:47 AM PST Scientists have created a customizable, fabric-like power source that can be cut, folded or stretched without losing its function. Being highly stretchable, these flexible power sources are promising next-generation 'fabric' energy storage devices that could be integrated into wearable electronics.

New computational method reveals chemoresistance drug targets Posted: 30 Jan 2018 06:47 AM PST The methylation of deoxycytosine to form 5-methylcytosine (5mC) is an important feature of cancer. Extensive DNA methylation and transcription analyses have provided large quantities of data, but it is challenging to identify critical genes related to cancer development from these data. Researchers in Japan have developed a new mathematical method to extract appropriate information from the data, and successfully identified the gene TRAF4 as a key candidate for conferring resistance to anti-cancer drugs in gastrointestinal cancer.

UK regional weather forecasts could be improved using jet stream data Posted: 30 Jan 2018 06:47 AM PST Weather forecasters could be able to better predict regional rainfall and temperatures by using North Atlantic jet stream data, according to new research. Climate scientists examined the relationship between changes in North Atlantic atmospheric circulation -- or jet stream -- and UK regional weather variations during summer and winter months over the past 65 years, and found that the jet stream changes were significantly associated with variations in regional rainfall and temperatures.

Long-term opioid use has dropped among US military veterans Posted: 30 Jan 2018 06:47 AM PST A new study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, published by Springer, shows that opioid prescribing has dropped after a peak in 2012. Lead author Katherine Hadlandsmyth of the Iowa City VA Healthcare System and the University of Iowa in the US further noted that the decline was mostly due to decreases in long-term opioid prescribing, which carries much greater risk for harmful side effects, addiction and overdose, relative to short-term prescribing.

Language is learned in brain circuits that predate humans Posted: 30 Jan 2018 06:47 AM PST It has often been claimed that humans learn language using brain components that are specifically dedicated to this purpose. Now, new evidence strongly suggests that language is in fact learned in brain systems that are also used for many other purposes and even pre-existed humans.

Patient exposure to X-rays depends on how dentists are paid Posted: 30 Jan 2018 06:13 AM PST Dentists' calculation of the benefits vs the risks of X-rays is being distorted by financial incentives.

Giant earthquakes: Not as random as thought Posted: 30 Jan 2018 06:12 AM PST By analyzing sediment cores from Chilean lakes, an international team of scientists discovered that giant earthquakes reoccur with relatively regular intervals. When also taking into account smaller earthquakes, the repeat interval becomes increasingly more irregular to a level where earthquakes happen randomly in time.

Study proves ‘muscle memory’ exists at a DNA level Posted: 30 Jan 2018 06:11 AM PST A study has shown for the first time that human muscles possess a 'memory' of earlier growth - at the DNA level.

Northern European population history revealed by ancient human genomes Posted: 30 Jan 2018 06:08 AM PST Scientists analyzed ancient human genomes from 38 northern Europeans dating from approximately 7,500 to 500 BCE. The study found that Scandinavia was initially settled via a southern and a northern route and that the arrival of agriculture in northern Europe was facilitated by movements of farmers and pastoralists into the region.

Women beat expectations when playing chess against men Posted: 30 Jan 2018 06:08 AM PST Data from 160,000 ranked chess players and more than 5 million chess matches suggest that women playing against men perform better than expected based on their official chess ratings, according to new findings. The study results indicate that women players are not affected by negative stereotypes about women's chess abilities during competition games, in contrast with previous research.

Breastfeeding reduces hypertension risk Posted: 30 Jan 2018 06:08 AM PST A new study indicates that women who breastfeed more children, and for longer periods of time, are less likely to suffer from hypertension after they reach menopause. This is less true of obese women, however.

Blood vessels-on-a-chip show anti-cancer drug effects in human cells Posted: 30 Jan 2018 06:08 AM PST Researchers report new organ-on-a-chip technology to observe sprouting angiogenesis from a single blood vessel. VEGF stimulated new capillaries from the single vessel by activating NOTCH signaling, recapitulating biochemical events of the human angiogenesis. The chip also confirmed the effects of two FDA-approved anti-angiogenic drugs, demonstrating its applicability to drug discovery.

You are subscribed to email updates from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States