Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive December 2015 - Page 4


Page 4 of 32

Are you Facebook dependent?

A new study by University of Akron researchers found that people who use Facebook to meet new friends are most dependent on the platform. The study also discovered personality traits common among specific types of Facebook users, such as extroverts and those with high self-esteem.

Even before ACA, cancer survivors in non-expansion states had less health-care access

Even before the Affordable Care Act (ACA), cancer survivors in non-expansion states had limited access to healthcare. The study analyzed data from the 2012 and 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and found that these survivors were less likely to have a personal doctor, receive an annual checkup, or see a doctor due to cost.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalJournal of Cancer Survivorship·DateDec 22, 2015

An Open Science plan: Wikidata for Research

The project aims to integrate research workflows with Wikidata to facilitate open science and collaboration across disciplines. Key findings include ongoing efforts to handle scholarly references through Wikidata, which can now be queried for information like city data and female mayors.

SourcePensoft Publishers·JournalResearch Ideas and Outcomes·DateDec 22, 2015

Mental time travel: An exclusively human capacity

A new theoretical model proposes that humans have an exclusively human capacity for mental time travel, composed of episodic memory and scenario construction. However, no definitive evidence supports foresightful behavior in animals, suggesting they may not possess the same level of mental time travel capabilities.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalNeuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews·DateDec 22, 2015

Fighting rice fungus

A study published by University of Delaware plant scientists has identified a stress hormone that appears to increase the virulence of the rice blast fungus. The research may lead to new control methods for the devastating disease.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalFrontiers in Plant Science·DateDec 22, 2015

Brain tumor revealed by treatment-resistant depression

A woman with treatment-resistant depression was found to have a brain tumor after symptoms persisted for six months despite antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication. The tumor, located in her left frontal lobe, was later treated successfully with emergency surgery, resulting in the disappearance of depressive symptoms.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalBMJ Case Reports·DateDec 22, 2015

Blocking fat transport linked to longevity

A new study reveals that blocking the production of a naturally occurring protein responsible for transporting fats around the body increases life span in nematodes and mice. The research suggests that this protein, VIT, hinders essential cell functions and prevents the reuse of fats for healthier purposes.

SourceBrown University·JournalAutophagy·DateDec 22, 2015

Low rate of job retention following colorectal cancer diagnosis

A study published in JAMA found that nearly half of working individuals with stage III colorectal cancer lost their jobs due to their diagnosis. However, those with access to paid sick leave were more likely to retain their jobs and experience reduced personal financial burdens. The study highlights the importance of providing paid sic...

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateDec 22, 2015

Mixing modern materials? NIST math app helps you manage your mashup

Scientists at NIST developed a new recipe development tool using advanced math to predict the capabilities of polymer-nanoparticle mixtures. By modeling particle shapes more realistically, they created virtual nanoparticles that can analyze real-world particles and make general statements about their behavior in mixes.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateDec 22, 2015

Screening male kidney transplant candidates for prostate cancer may do more harm than good

Researchers have found that screening male kidney transplant candidates for prostate cancer does not prolong their survival and may even delay receiving a transplant. Elevated PSA levels detected through screening were associated with a reduced likelihood of receiving a transplant regardless of the patient's age or PSA level.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateDec 22, 2015