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Science News Archive January 2016 - Page 21


Page 21 of 31

A coffee to keep New Year fitness resolutions

A study suggests that reducing perception of effort during exercise with caffeine can help people stick to their fitness plans. Researchers found that the majority of people give up on exercising within six months due to lack of motivation and physical exertion, which is a natural response to conserve energy. The use of psychoactive dr...

SourceUniversity of Kent·JournalSports Medicine·DateJan 13, 2016

Emotion dysregulation in borderline personality disorder: A problem of too much drive and too little control?

A new study reveals that individuals with borderline personality disorder exhibit enhanced amygdala activity and reduced dorsolateral prefrontal cortex function when processing negative emotions, suggesting a lack of control over emotional responses. This findings support the concept of BPD as a disorder of emotion dysregulation.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateJan 13, 2016

New role for motor neurons discovered

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered a new role for motor neurons in influencing rhythmic movements. Motor neurons directly control the recruitment of upstream excitatory interneurons via gap junctions, indicating they are not passive recipients of signals from interneuronal circuits.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalNature·DateJan 13, 2016

Study: Workplace flexibility benefits employees

A study by Phyllis Moen and Erin L. Kelly found that workers who participated in a pilot work flexibility program reported higher levels of job satisfaction, reduced burnout, and psychological stress. The research adds to the growing body of evidence showing that flexible work arrangements result in happier, healthier, and more product...

SourceAmerican Sociological Association·JournalAmerican Sociological Review·DateJan 13, 2016

Research finds reason advertising boosts stock prices for some companies and not others

New research from Indiana University finds that companies with a differentiation strategy benefit more from advertising than those with a cost leadership approach. Advertising increases awareness and sales for differentiated firms, building brand equity and shareholder value. In contrast, cost leaders may not see an impact on their sto...

SourceIndiana University·JournalJournal of Marketing Research·DateJan 13, 2016

Could campaigns like Dry January do more harm than good?

Two experts debate the impact of alcohol abstinence campaigns like Dry January, with one arguing they may have unintended consequences for heavy drinkers. On the other hand, another expert suggests that such campaigns can help people reflect on their drinking habits and make longer-term changes.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·DateJan 13, 2016

Ancient going on nouveau

Researchers have evaluated the potential of ancient grains in modern agriculture, finding that they require reduced fertilization to prevent lodging. While they contain high amounts of protein, the quality is lower than in modern crops. However, these grains can enrich biodiversity and offer premium products through traditional methods.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalCrop Science·DateJan 13, 2016

What do lasers and oranges have in common? A possible cure for citrus greening

Researchers have discovered that lasers can improve the penetration of antibiotic treatments into citrus leaves, potentially offering a new approach to treating the deadly citrus greening disease. The method uses laser etching to create microscopic indentations in the leaf tissue, allowing for more effective delivery of substances.

SourceBotanical Society of America·JournalApplications in Plant Sciences·DateJan 13, 2016

Antisocial behavior: Understanding the influence of genes and the environment

A longitudinal study found that exposure to violence in childhood is linked to increased symptoms of conduct disorder and antisocial personality in adolescence and adulthood. The MAOA gene was also identified as a key moderator of this relationship, with certain variants increasing the risk of aggressive behavior and partner violence.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalThe British Journal of Psychiatry·DateJan 13, 2016

Mosquito net safe to use in inguinal hernia repair

A Swedish-Ugandan study has shown that sterilized mosquito nets can replace costly surgical meshes in inguinal hernia repairs without compromising patient safety or treatment efficacy. The study involved over 300 adult males from rural Uganda and found no significant differences between groups.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJan 13, 2016

Singing in the brain: Songbirds sing like humans

A recent study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that songbirds' vocal muscles can change their function to produce different sound parameters, similar to a trained opera singer. The research, led by Samuel Sober, shows that the bird's brain directs complex changes in muscle combinations to create complex songs.

Racial disparity in premature births contributes significantly to infant mortality problem

A new study found a significant racial disparity in premature births among black women, which may explain much of the racial disparity in infant mortality. The study suggests that public health efforts should focus on access to prenatal care and preventive measures for high-risk black women.

SourceCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center·JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology·DateJan 12, 2016

Brain receptor regulates fat burning in cells

Scientists at Gladstone Institutes discovered a novel regulator of body weight: the P75 neurotrophin receptor. Lowering levels of p75 NTR protected mice from developing obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver disease on a high-fat diet. The receptor plays a key role in regulating metabolic processes that control body weight.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalCell Reports·DateJan 12, 2016

Standardized approach makes outpatient thyroid surgery safe for even the elderly, super-elderly

A recent study published in the journal Surgery found that outpatient thyroid surgery is safe for even the elderly and super-elderly, thanks to a standardized treatment approach. The study showed that while older patients have more comorbid conditions, complication rates held steady at 5-6 percent across all groups.

What should be the role of computer games in education?

A new study discourages a sweeping transformation of conventional education to replace traditional curricula with game-based instruction. Instead, researchers recommend adding promising features to games, such as explanatory feedback and pregame activities, to enhance learning outcomes. Game features that improve student performance in...

SourceSAGE·JournalPolicy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences·DateJan 12, 2016

Traumatic brain injury induces mental impairments using mechanisms linked with Alzheimer's

A new study finds that traumatic brain injury induces mental impairments using mechanisms linked with Alzheimer's disease, specifically the toxic form of tau protein. The research suggests that TBI may share a common mechanism with neurodegenerative diseases, increasing the risk for dementia and other neurological disorders.

SourceUniversity of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston·JournalJournal of Neurotrauma·DateJan 12, 2016

Uncovering oxygen's role in enhancing red LEDs

Researchers at Lehigh University and international collaborators found that small quantities of oxygen are needed to enhance the optical properties of Eu-doped GaN devices. The study utilized native oxygen in Eu(RE)-doped GaN for enabling device compatibility in optoelectronic applications.

SourceLehigh University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 12, 2016

Greenland ice sheet melts more when it's cloudy

Clouds play a significant role in the melting of the Greenland ice sheet, with clouds enhancing meltwater runoff by a third. The study highlights the need for accurate cloud representations in climate models to estimate the amount of meltwater and mitigate global sea level rise.

SourceKU Leuven·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 12, 2016