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Science News for April 3, 2018


What makes us truly happy and healthy?

The study will assess well-being across physical health, emotional health, purpose, character strengths, social connectedness, and financial security. The collaboration aims to advance scientific understanding of what it means to be truly healthy and transform the field of well-being research.

Considering an employee for an overseas assignment?

A recent study from Florida Atlantic University suggests that expatriates' personality characteristics have a significant impact on their ability to adjust to new environments. The research found that extraverts who are emotionally stable and open to new experiences tend to perform better in foreign assignments.

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalJournal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology·DateApr 3, 2018

For women with kidney cancer, belly fat matters

A new study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine found that women with kidney cancer who have substantial abdominal fat are more likely to die within 3 1/2 years after diagnosis, while those with little belly fat tend to live longer. For men, the amount of abdominal fat does not appear to affect survival rates.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalRadiology·DateApr 3, 2018

Mathematical modeling offers new way to understand variable responses to targeted therapy

Researchers used a unique approach combining cell culture studies with mathematical modeling to determine how heterogeneity within a tumor and surrounding environment affect responses to targeted therapies. The study suggests that using a combination of drug inhibitors may be necessary to target diverse tumor cells.

Partner's finances impact well-being, even in young love

Research finds that young adults' own financial behaviors have the most impact on their well-being, followed by their romantic partners' behaviors. Parents' financial expectations had the least impact, but still influence young adults' objective financial knowledge. The study suggests that even in non-marital relationships, a partner's...

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalJournal of Family and Economic Issues·DateApr 3, 2018

Physicists at FAU demonstrate demixing behavior of rotating particles

Physicists at FAU have demonstrated that macroscopic particles rotating in opposite directions form homogeneous groups. The researchers used miniature robots manufactured using 3D printing methods for their experiment. After only one minute, single domains were clearly visible, and after 15 minutes, the robots had almost entirely demixed.

SourceFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 3, 2018

Preprints accelerated between Ebola and Zika epidemics

The study found that preprint posting increased during the Zika epidemic compared to the Ebola outbreak, providing earlier access to scientific reports. The authors advocate for broader use of preprints to facilitate criticism, analysis, and further studies in infectious disease outbreaks.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateApr 3, 2018

Study says meat protein is unhealthy, but protein from nuts and seeds is heart smart

A study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that consuming large amounts of meat protein increases cardiovascular disease risk by 60%, while nuts and seeds reduce CVD risk by 40%. The research suggests that proteins from these sources have distinct effects on heart health.

SourceLoma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center·JournalInternational Journal of Epidemiology·DateApr 3, 2018

Losing your nest egg can kill you

A new Northwestern University study reveals that losing 75% of one's wealth in two years increases the risk of death by 50% over the next 20 years. The research also found that socially vulnerable individuals, including low-income people, are more likely to die after a financial shock.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJAMA·DateApr 3, 2018

Inner ear provides clues to human dispersal

Researchers analyzed inner ear structure in humans from diverse populations, finding variation within populations greater than between them. The shape of the labyrinth correlates with dispersal distance from Africa, providing insights into human migration history and population movements within continents.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 3, 2018

Human daily rhythms: Clocks vs. light/dark cycle

A study by University of Seville finds that human primary activities are synchronized with the winter day as a synchronizer, rather than clock time. The study characterizes laborer's activities along the daily and yearly cycle of light and dark, revealing latitudinal patterns tied to the light/dark cycle.

SourceUniversity of Seville·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 3, 2018

How to cool a smartphone

Scientists at NUST MISIS have developed composites that can efficiently remove heat from electronic devices, potentially replacing traditional materials like fiberglass. The new material has high thermal conductivity and mechanical properties, making it suitable for use in smartphones and other electronics.

SourceNational University of Science and Technology MISIS·JournalJournal of Alloys and Compounds·DateApr 3, 2018

Peer influence, better HIV counseling could encourage boys in Africa to be circumcised

A recent study found that a focus on boys and young men is crucial to continue progress in reducing new HIV infections. Researchers suggest that improved health counseling and engagement with peers can encourage more adolescents to undergo circumcision, which reduces the risk of HIV transmission by 60%. The study also highlights the ne...

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·DateApr 3, 2018

Smokers have worse diets than non-smokers

A study of 5293 US adults found that smokers consumed around 200 more calories a day than non-smokers or former smokers, despite eating smaller portions. Smokers' diets were also high in energy density, meaning they consumed food with fewer nutrients and potentially increased risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Public Health·DateApr 3, 2018

Study explains resurgence of pertussis

A study reveals that incomplete vaccination coverage is causing a predictable increase in pertussis cases. The vaccine's effectiveness decreases over time, allowing susceptible individuals to contract the disease. Researchers recommend targeting schoolchildren for vaccination campaigns.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateApr 3, 2018

Reversal of fortunes

A new study reveals the Mississippi River Delta is experiencing seafloor erosion at an alarming rate, threatening marine ecosystems and infrastructure. The research, published in Marine Geology, found that sediment deposition has stopped, leading to land loss and degradation of wetlands and seafloors.

SourceLouisiana State University·JournalMarine Geology·DateApr 3, 2018

Great magma erup­tions had 2 sources

Research at Finnish Museum of Natural History sheds light on great magma eruptions, revealing two contrasting sources: the upper mantle and a deep mantle plume. This study resolves long-standing controversies and presents an interesting new framework for future geological research.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 3, 2018

Ohio University study shows high number of concussion-related symptoms in performing arts

A recent Ohio University study found that 67 percent of theater workers have experienced concussion-related symptoms and head impacts; 77 percent had more than three head impacts. Many respondents continued working despite experiencing symptoms, citing concerns about not wanting to be seen as 'not tough enough',

SourceOhio University·JournalJournal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine·DateApr 3, 2018

New weapon in fight against dementia

A University of Delaware researcher is studying a naturally occurring dietary supplement, nicotinamide riboside (NR), to boost nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) levels and potentially treat age-related cardiovascular dysfunction. The study aims to improve physiological function in humans by reversing age-related declines in NAD+.

Using ultrasound to help people walk again

A researcher at the University of Pittsburgh is using ultrasound imaging to develop a more precise interface between exoskeletons and individual muscles in people with incomplete spinal cord injuries. This technology aims to provide more efficient rehabilitation tools, reducing the risk of falls during robot-assisted walking.

Artificial molecules that mimic DNA

Artificial molecules mimicking DNA's surface features have been successfully synthesized, demonstrating the ability to inhibit activity of several DNA-binding enzymes. These findings pave the way for new medicines by inhibiting DNA-protein interactions.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature Chemistry·DateApr 3, 2018

Astrophysicists map the infant universe in 3-D and discover 4,000 early galaxies

Researchers used Subaru telescope in Hawaii and Isaac Newton telescope in Canary Islands to create 3D map of universe's first 16 billion years. The team found nearly 4000 early galaxies, many of which may have evolved into Milky Way-like galaxies. These discoveries provide crucial information about early phases of galaxy formation.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateApr 3, 2018

More communication needed regarding disposal of pet pharmaceuticals

A study by Oregon State University found that over 60% of veterinary care professionals do not counsel clients on the environmental stewardship aspect of medicine disposal. Pet supplies and over-the-counter pet medications are a significant industry, with potentially harmful effects on the environment when disposed of improperly.

SourceOregon State University·JournalJournal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·DateApr 3, 2018

It's an ecological trap

Researchers discover that warmer temperatures turn non-native milkweed species into a poisonous trap for monarch butterflies. This study highlights the impact of climate change on species interactions and the delicate balance between monarchs and their food source.

SourceLouisiana State University·JournalEcology·DateApr 3, 2018