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Science News Archive July 2013 - Page 27


Page 27 of 31

Hot flashes take heavier toll on women with HIV

A study published in Menopause found that women with HIV suffer from moderate to severe hot flashes, which significantly impact their daily functioning and overall well-being. The study also highlighted the potential risks of hot flashes on their health, HIV treatment, and ability to abstain from drugs and alcohol.

SourceThe Menopause Society·JournalMenopause·DateJul 3, 2013

Tweet timing tells bots, people and companies apart

Researchers analyzed over 160,000 tweets from personal accounts, corporate accounts and bot-controlled accounts to develop a method to predict when new tweets would be posted. The study found that individual tweeters were most active in the afternoons and evenings, while corporate-managed accounts tweeted during work hours.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 3, 2013

Elsevier selected to publish new journal: Travel Behaviour and Society

Travel Behaviour and Society, an interdisciplinary journal, will be published by Elsevier, covering topics like travel behavior, infrastructure, environmental issues, mobility, and social sustainability. The journal aims to provide a forum for publication and discussion of leading research in the field of transportation.

SourceElsevier·JournalTravel Behaviour and Society·DateJul 3, 2013

New knowledge about early galaxies

A team of researchers studied an early galaxy using the ESO Very Large Telescope and Hubble Space Telescope, determining its size, mass, element content, and star formation rate. The study found that the galaxy contained a high proportion of heavier elements, similar to those in the centre and outer parts of the galaxy.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Niels Bohr Institute·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJul 3, 2013

News coverage of female politicians focuses on personality, males on the issues

A recent study found that news coverage of female politicians focuses more on character traits and less on policy arguments compared to their male counterparts. The researchers analyzed data from approximately 10,000 newspaper articles covering statewide elections in the US, finding a significant disparity in the focus of news stories.

SourceSAGE·JournalPolitical Research Quarterly·DateJul 3, 2013

Shape-shifting disease proteins may explain variable appearance of neurodegenerative diseases

Researchers have discovered that a single protein, alpha-synuclein, can exist in two different structural shapes, or 'strains', which promote misfolding of other disease proteins commonly found in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. This finding has significant implications for the development of therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.

Thin-film diamonds

Researchers at Advanced Diamond Technologies successfully created thin films of boron-doped diamond at low temperatures, potentially enabling a wider range of applications for electronic devices. The new method expands the possibilities for depositing high-quality diamond coatings without damaging sensitive electronics.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateJul 3, 2013

DNA markers in low-IQ autism suggest heredity

A new study analyzed DNA from over 2,100 children with autism and found evidence of a recessive, inherited genetic contribution in cases with significant intellectual disability. The research suggests that runs of homozygosity, or long strands of identical DNA, may harbor deleterious variants that increase disease susceptibility.

SourceBrown University·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics·DateJul 3, 2013

Boston University study identifies molecular circuitry that helps tuberculosis survive for decades

Researchers at Boston University's National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories have generated a map of the cellular circuitry of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, shedding light on its ability to survive inactive in the human body for decades and resist treatment. The study provides new insight into the bacterium's survival mechanisms...

People's diets show a sugar-fat seesaw

A review of 53 scientific papers found an inverse association between sugar and fat intake in people's diets, known as the 'sugar-fat seesaw'. This suggests that reducing one may lead to an increase in the other.

SourceSugar Nutrition UK·JournalCritical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition·DateJul 3, 2013

Reproductive BioMedicine Online publishes study on assisted reproduction

A recent study published in Reproductive BioMedicine Online examines the outcomes of assisted reproduction treatment for same-sex male couples and single men. The research found that high success rates can be achieved, particularly among persistent individuals, with most men successful in realizing their dream of fatherhood.

SourceElsevier·JournalReproductive BioMedicine Online·DateJul 3, 2013

Military sonar can alter blue whale behavior

Researchers found that some blue whales changed their diving behavior or temporarily avoided important feeding areas when exposed to simulated mid-frequency sonar sounds. The responses were complex and depended on various factors, including the whales' depth of feeding and location.

Semantics on the basis of words' connectivity

Brazilian physicists Thiago Silva and Diego Amancio devised a method to disambiguate words with multiple meanings by analyzing their connections in literary classics. Their approach, based on deterministic tourist walks, showed significant accuracy rates comparable to traditional semantic-based methods.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateJul 3, 2013

Knowing the end goal increases productivity

A new study from Aarhus University's Interacting Minds Centre found that when team members know their exact goal, they are more willing to trust and cooperate with each other. The research suggests that trust and clear goals are essential ingredients for successful cooperation in various settings.

SourceAarhus University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 3, 2013

Clues about autism may come from the gut

A study published in PLOS ONE suggests that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have lower diversity of gut bacteria and decreased amounts of three critical bacteria. This finding implies that a diverse gut microbiome is essential for maintaining a robust bacterial community, and may be linked to the development of ASD symptoms.

SourceArizona State University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 3, 2013

Study reports on declines in ecosystem productivity fueled by nitrogen-induced species loss

A new study finds that adding nitrogen to grasslands initially boosts ecosystem productivity but ultimately leads to a decline due to reduced plant diversity. The research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, highlights the significant impact of biodiversity loss on ecosystem functioning.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 3, 2013

Cockatoos 'pick' puzzle box locks

Researchers found that cockatoos employ a 'cognitive ratchet' process to solve the problem, suggesting they have a representation of the goal. After mastering the sequence, birds reacted with immediate sensitivity to changes in the puzzle box.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 3, 2013

Computer programs improve fingerprint grading

A team of Penn State researchers developed a process using three inexpensive computer programs to grade fingerprints for ridge detail evaluation. The system ensures standardized evaluation finer than human capabilities, improving the reliability of fingerprint matches.

SourcePenn State·JournalForensic Science International·DateJul 3, 2013