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Science News for August 19, 2014


Love makes sex better for most women

According to a Penn State Abington sociologist, most women believe love is necessary for maximum sexual satisfaction in both relationships and marriage. The study found that love makes sex physically more pleasurable and increases feelings of trust and agency.

Researchers block plant hormone

Scientists identify a molecule that blocks the effect of jasmonic acid, a plant hormone involved in flower formation, root growth and defence against herbivores. The discovery was made using a biological selection process involving intact plants.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Cell Biology·DateAug 19, 2014

Leave the car at home for a healthier daily commute, say experts

A UK study published in the BMJ Group reveals a significant association between active commuting methods (walking, cycling, or using public transport) and lower BMI scores. For men, this equates to a difference of nearly half a stone in weight, while for women, it's around 5.5lb, compared to those who used private transport.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·DateAug 19, 2014

Antibacterial soap exposes health workers to high triclosan levels

A study by UCSF researchers found that hospital workers exposed to antibacterial soap had significantly higher triclosan levels in their urine compared to those using plain soap and water. Washing with antibacterial soap accounted for even higher triclosan levels than brushing with toothpaste containing triclosan.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalJournal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine·DateAug 19, 2014

'Tickling' your ear could be good for your heart

A team at the University of Leeds used a standard TENS machine to apply electrical pulses to the tragus, reducing nervous signals that can drive failing hearts too hard. The stimulation changed the influence of the nervous system on the heart by increasing heart rate variability and suppressing sympathetic nervous system activity.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalBrain Stimulation·DateAug 19, 2014

Guiding stars

A new study by Cornell University researchers found that the Guiding Stars System brands items with zero, one, two or three star rating leads to a decline in sales of less healthy foods. Sales of healthy food purchases rose by 1.39% while 'junk food' sales fell by 8.31%. This trend may be due to consumers making healthier choices.

SourceCornell Food & Brand Lab·JournalPublic Health Nutrition·DateAug 19, 2014

Organic photovoltaic cells of the future

A team of researchers has developed a method to determine the absolute value of charge formation efficiency in organic photovoltaic cells, enabling high-throughput screening of materials. The technique, combining two types of spectroscopy, reveals a high charge formation efficiency even at low temperatures.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateAug 19, 2014

Sequencing at sea

A team of researchers from San Diego State University overcame numerous challenges to successfully sequence DNA samples in real-time at sea. Despite equipment failures, space constraints, and shark encounters, they managed to collect and analyze data on the Line Islands, developing new research questions and hypotheses along the way.

SourceSan Diego State University·JournalPeerJ·DateAug 19, 2014

Why global warming is taking a break

Researchers find that El Niño and La Niña events, as well as weakened solar activity and aerosol concentrations, contributed to the recent slowdown in global warming. The study suggests that short-term climate fluctuations can be explained by natural factors without contradicting long-term warming trends.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Geoscience·DateAug 19, 2014

CU Denver researcher shows economic disparities impact infant health

A new study by CU Denver researcher Zaneta Thayer found that poor women experience higher cortisol levels during pregnancy, giving birth to infants with elevated cortisol responses to stress. These early life disparities can lead to serious disease later in life and highlight the need for stress reduction and social support.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Biology·DateAug 19, 2014

Intervention helps smokers quit following hospital stay

A postdischarge intervention that included automated telephone calls and free medication resulted in higher sustained smoking cessation rates at six months than standard advice. The study found that more participants achieved biochemically confirmed past 7-day tobacco abstinence and reported continuous abstinence for 6 months.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateAug 19, 2014

Nurse staffing and mortality in stroke centers

A study of 56,666 patients with stroke found that weekend nurse staffing was strongly associated with mortality outcomes, regardless of the day of admission. Patients admitted to hospitals with lower nurse-to-patient bed ratios had a higher risk of death, highlighting the importance of adequate staffing levels on weekends.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateAug 19, 2014

Exporting US coal to Asia could drop emissions 21 percent

A new study suggests that exporting US coal to power plants in South Korea could lead to a 21 percent drop in greenhouse gas emissions. However, the economic benefits of such exports would come with increased water use, land degradation, and potential harm to fish and wildlife habitats.

SourceDuke University·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateAug 19, 2014

In-utero methadone, subutex exposure could alter gene expression, cause severe neonatal abstience syndrome

Researchers found that infants exposed to opioids in utero had more severe symptoms of neonatal abstinence syndrome, with higher DNA methylation levels. This study suggests a link between early exposure and lasting epigenetic changes, potentially affecting future sensitivity to addictive substances.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalThe Journal of Pediatrics·DateAug 19, 2014

Common antibiotic linked with heart deaths

A study found that clarithromycin, a widely used antibiotic, is associated with an increased risk of heart deaths in people over 40-74 years old. The absolute risk difference was 37 cardiac deaths per 1 million courses with clarithromycin.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·DateAug 19, 2014