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Science News for November 19, 2014


It pays to have an eye for emotions

Researchers found that people with strong emotion recognition skills are perceived as more socially and politically skilled by colleagues and supervisors. They also earn significantly higher incomes. The study controlled for various factors affecting employee income and replicated its findings in a second study.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalJournal of Organizational Behavior·DateNov 19, 2014

'Green Revolution' changes breathing of the biosphere

A new model developed by University of Maryland researchers links intensive agriculture to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, revealing a strong correlation between the Green Revolution and Earth's metabolism. The study found that crop production tripled while land planted with major crops grew by 20 percent, leading to incre...

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalNature·DateNov 19, 2014

High heels may enhance a man's instinct to be helpful

A French study found that men are more likely to help women wearing high heels than those wearing flat shoes. The study suggests that men associate high heels with femininity and attractiveness. Men were also quicker to start chatting with women wearing heels, indicating a stronger instinct to be helpful.

SourceSpringer·JournalArchives of Sexual Behavior·DateNov 19, 2014

Of mice, not men

Researchers have discovered that a significant number of mouse genes do not behave like their human counterparts, suggesting that science will need to rethink the role of the lab mouse. The findings come from the ongoing mouse ENCODE project and indicate that similar genes in humans and mice are expressed in different ways.

UTMB scientist finds marker that predicts cholesterol level changes as people grow older

Researchers found a link between the APOE e4 allele and increased risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as lower HDL cholesterol levels. Higher cholesterol in older adults may be associated with longevity, challenging current cholesterol-lowering medication practices.

SourceUniversity of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateNov 19, 2014

Discrimination, family conflict key sources of stress for Latina immigrants

New research suggests that racial discrimination, family issues, and economic constraints contribute to acculturative stress among Latina immigrants. Family support, however, acts as a protective factor against psychological distress. The study found that acculturative stress levels varied depending on individual circumstances.

E-cigarettes significantly reduce tobacco cravings

A new study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that e-cigarettes significantly reduced tobacco cravings. In an 8-month study, participants who used e-cigs showed a significant decrease in tobacco cigarette use, with 21% quitting smoking altogether.

SourceKU Leuven·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateNov 19, 2014

Researchers identify protein mutation that alters tissue development in males before birth

Case Western Reserve researchers have identified a protein mutation that prevents proper gonadal tissue development, leading to cancer and other issues. The discovery highlights the importance of the SRY protein in regulating male sex determination and has implications for understanding birth defects and cancer.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateNov 19, 2014

A jettisoned black hole?

Researchers have identified an enigmatic object named SDSS1133, which could be a recoiling black hole ejected from its parent galaxy. The discovery, made using high-precision equipment and observations with the Hubble Space Telescope, presents a unique opportunity to study gravitational waves and their detection.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateNov 19, 2014

Digging for answers

A recent study by Dana Bardolph found that female authors are underrepresented in American archaeology journals, accounting for less than 29% of published articles. The research suggests a pervasive gender bias in academia and publishing, with potential factors including authorial behavior and the submission process.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalAmerican Antiquity·DateNov 19, 2014

People's movement perturbed during, but similar after Hurricane Sandy

A study analyzing Twitter data from over 700,000 tweets found that New Yorkers resumed normal mobility less than 24 hours after Hurricane Sandy. The researchers observed similar geographical and statistical distributions of locations before and after the hurricane, suggesting resilience in human movement during the disaster.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateNov 19, 2014

MSK team makes key discovery in understanding immunotherapy's successes -- and its failures

Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center have made a breakthrough discovery that may lead to a reliable diagnostic test for predicting which patients will respond to immunotherapy drugs like ipilimumab. The study found that tumors with high numbers of gene mutations are more likely to benefit from the treatment.

SourceMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateNov 19, 2014

Study: Teens who mature early at greater risk of depression

A new study by University of Illinois psychologist Karen D. Rudolph found that early puberty triggers psychological, social-behavioral and interpersonal difficulties that predict elevated levels of depression in both boys and girls. Early maturation was particularly detrimental to girls, who experience immediate psychological and envir...

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalDevelopment and Psychopathology·DateNov 19, 2014

A signature for success

Researchers have identified specific genetic mutations in melanoma tumors that predict effective responses to a groundbreaking immunotherapy. The discovery, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, could lead to more targeted and personalized cancer treatments, including tailored therapies for patients with diverse tumor genomes.

SourceLudwig Institute for Cancer Research·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateNov 19, 2014

Fathers' engagement with baby depends on mother

Researchers found that fathers' positive engagement increased as their intuitive parenting increased, but only when mothers had shown lower levels of intuitive parenting. The study involved highly educated, dual-earner couples and few in which the mother would be staying at home full-time.

SourceOhio State University·JournalInfant Mental Health Journal Infancy and Early Childhood·DateNov 19, 2014

New leadless pacemaker safe, reliable

Researchers have developed a new self-contained leadless cardiac pacemaker that reduces complications associated with traditional pacemaker systems. The device was implanted in eight patients with no complications in an average of 41 minutes and demonstrated reliable performance during follow-up sessions.

NASA's Swift mission probes an exotic object: 'Kicked' black hole or mega star?

Researchers analyzing decades of observations detect an unusual source of light in a galaxy, with properties suggesting it could be a supermassive black hole ejected from its home galaxy. Alternatively, the object might have been a rare type of star known as a Luminous Blue Variable that underwent prolonged eruptions.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateNov 19, 2014

A gut reaction

Queen's University scientists found that nanosilver can upset the human gut community at low concentrations. The discovery highlights the potential risks of nanoparticles in everyday life and underscores the need for further research on their long-term effects on health.

SourceQueen's University·JournalJournal of Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology·DateNov 19, 2014

Sun's rotating 'magnet' pulls lightning towards UK

Researchers found a 50% increase in UK thunderstorms when the Sun's spiral-shaped magnetic field pointed towards or away from Earth, potentially exposing the upper atmosphere to galactic cosmic rays. This discovery could lead to a reliable lightning forecast system that provides weeks-in-advance warnings of hazardous events.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateNov 19, 2014

Bad marriage, broken heart?

A new study from Michigan State University finds that bad marriages are associated with a higher risk of heart disease in older adults, particularly women. The study analyzed data from over 1,200 couples and found that negative marital quality had a greater impact on cardiovascular health than positive quality.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalJournal of Health and Social Behavior·DateNov 19, 2014

Giving LEDs a cozy, warm glow

Scientists develop a thermoresponsive coating that changes the color of white LEDs when dimmed, creating a warmer glow. This innovative technology uses liquid crystal and polymeric materials to create a temperature-dependent shift in light emission.

SourceOptica·JournalOptics Express·DateNov 19, 2014

Florida harvester ants regularly relocate

Florida harvester ants exhibit annual nest relocation behavior, constructing similar subterranean nests about once a year. The frequency and size of relocations vary among colonies, with smaller ones relocating more often than larger ones.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateNov 19, 2014

Climate change in drylands

Research reveals that annual plant growth in drylands is severely affected by droughts, but the ability to recover varies depending on the type of ecosystem and grazing regime. The study found that perennial plants dominate areas with higher drought resistance and lower recovery potential.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalGlobal Change Biology·DateNov 19, 2014

Drinking age laws have a significant effect on collisions among young drivers

A study by University of Northern British Columbia researchers found that drivers just older than the legal drinking age had a significant increase in motor vehicle crashes compared to those immediately under the restriction. Raising the drinking age to 19 years could prevent up to 583 police-reported collisions per year.

SourceUniversity of Northern British Columbia·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateNov 19, 2014