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This page shows you the most recent publications within this specialty of the MedWorm directory. This is page number 15.

Spatial distribution and source apportionment of water pollution in different administrative zones of Wen-Rui-Tang (WRT) river watershed, China.
Abstract Water quality degradation in river systems has caused great concerns all over the world. Identifying the spatial distribution and sources of water pollutants is the very first step for efficient water quality management. A set of water samples collected bimonthly at 12 monitoring sites in 2009 and 2010 were analyzed to determine the spatial distribution of critical parameters and to apportion the sources of pollutants in Wen-Rui-Tang (WRT) river watershed, near the East China Sea. The 12 monitoring sites were divided into three administrative zones of urban, suburban, and rural zones considering difference...
Source: Environmental Science and Pollution Research International - February 13, 2013 Category: Environmental Health Authors: Yang L, Mei K, Liu X, Wu L, Zhang M, Xu J, Wang F Tags: Environ Sci Pollut Res Int Source Type: research

Distance measures for medical image retrieval
This article describes some easily computable distance measures for medical image retrieval using measures such as probability, mean, standard deviation, skew, energy, and entropy. The distance measures used are Euclidean, Manhattan, Mahalanobis, Canberra, Bray‐Curtis, squared chord, and Squared chi‐squared. Two kind of decision rules precision and accuracy were used for measuring retrieval. A dataset is created using various imaging modalities like CT, MRI, and US images. From the final results, it is very clear that each distance metric with each measures shows different results in retrieval of medical images. It is ...
Source: International Journal of Imaging Systems and Technology - February 13, 2013 Category: Radiology Authors: Swarnambiga Ayyachamy, Vasuki S. Manivannan Tags: Research Article Source Type: research

Heme oxygenase-1 induction reverses interleukin-1{beta} actions on hypoxia inducible transcription factors and human chondrocyte metabolism in hypoxia
Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) catalyses the degradation of heme and possesses anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective properties. The role of inflammatory mediators in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA) is becoming increasingly appreciated. Here we investigated the effects of HO-1 induction in OA and healthy human articular chondrocytes in response to inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1 β) under hypoxic conditions. Hypoxia was investigated as it is a more physiological condition of the avascular cartilage. Hypoxic signalling is mediated by hypoxia inducible transcription factors (HIFs), of which there are ...
Source: Clinical Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: V Clérigues, C Luke Murphy, M Guillén, M Alcaraz Source Type: research

Countering the Threat of Fake Medications and Substandard Drugs
No country acting alone can protect its citizens against the health risks posed by illegitimate medications, and reducing this problem requires international cooperation, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. Products containing little or no active ingredients hasten drug resistance, do not treat disease, and increase the costs of health care. Illegitimate drugs containing dangerous ingredients have sickened and killed people around the world. The report calls for global agreement on an international code of practice on drug quality. It also recommends establishing a mandatory drug tracking system and tightenin...
Source: News from the National Academies - February 13, 2013 Category: Science Source Type: news

miR-196b targets c-myc and Bcl-2 expression, inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in endometriotic stromal cells
STUDY QUESTION What is the global expression pattern of microRNAs (miRNAs) in endometriotic stromal cells and is miR-196b involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis? SUMMARY ANSWER Several miRNAs are aberrantly expressed in endometriotic cyst stromal cells (ECSCs), including miR-196b whose expression is repressed in endometriotic stromal cells. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Although, histologically, endometriotic tissues and normal proliferative endometrium are similar, a number of distinct molecular differences have been reported to date. The anti-apoptotic and excessive proliferative properties of endometriotic cells are co...
Source: Human Reproduction - February 13, 2013 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Abe, W., Nasu, K., Nakada, C., Kawano, Y., Moriyama, M., Narahara, H. Tags: Reproductive biology Source Type: research

The human is an exception to the evolutionarily-conserved phenomenon of pre-fertilization zona pellucida resistance to proteolysis induced by oviductal fluid
STUDY QUESTION Is zona pellucida (ZP) resistance to proteolysis, induced by oviductal fluid (OF), a mechanism common to species other than the pig and cow? Summary Answer ZP resistance to proteolysis induced by OF was observed in the mouse, rat, hamster, rabbit, sheep, goat, pig and cow, but not in humans. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Oviductal ZP resistance to proteolysis occurs in the pig and cow where it influences the incidence of fertilization and polyspermy. The effect is observed after incubation of ZP in OFs from pig (pOF), cow (cOF), rabbit (rOF) and sheep (sOF). STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Oocytes from nine differen...
Source: Human Reproduction - February 13, 2013 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Mondejar, I., Aviles, M., Coy, P. Tags: Reproductive biology Source Type: research

Rationalizing the management of pregnancies of unknown location: temporal and external validation of a risk prediction model on 1962 pregnancies
STUDY QUESTION Can we accurately define a group of pregnancies of unknown location (PULs) as low risk in order to safely reduce follow-up for these pregnancies and allocate resources to pregnancies at an increased risk of being ectopic? SUMMARY ANSWER Prediction model M4 classified around 70% of PULs as low risk, of which around 97% were later characterized as failed PULs or intrauterine pregnancies (IUPs), while still classifying 88% of ectopic pregnancies as high risk. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Depending on the level of suspicion of ectopic pregnancy (EP), women with a PUL receive a lengthy follow-up in order to confirm th...
Source: Human Reproduction - February 13, 2013 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Van Calster, B., Abdallah, Y., Guha, S., Kirk, E., Van Hoorde, K., Condous, G., Preisler, J., Hoo, W., Stalder, C., Bottomley, C., Timmerman, D., Bourne, T. Tags: Early pregnancy Source Type: research

PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonate) in serum is negatively associated with testosterone levels, but not with semen quality, in healthy men
STUDY QUESTION Is exposure to perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) associated with testicular function (reproductive hormone levels and semen quality) in healthy men? SUMMARY ANSWER PFOS levels were significantly negatively associated with serum testosterone (total and calculated free), but not with any other reproductive hormones or semen quality. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY In animals, some PFCs have endocrine disrupting potential, but few studies have investigated PFCs in relation to human testicular function. Previously, we and others have observed a negative association between serum PFC levels and sperm morphology. The potent...
Source: Human Reproduction - February 13, 2013 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Joensen, U. N., Veyrand, B., Antignac, J.-P., Blomberg Jensen, M., Petersen, J. H., Marchand, P., Skakkebaek, N. E., Andersson, A.-M., Le Bizec, B., Jorgensen, N. Tags: Andrology Source Type: research

Towards a general theory of implementation
Understanding and evaluating the implementation of complex interventions in practice is an important problem for healthcare managers and policy makers, and for patients and others who must operationalize them beyond formal clinical settings. It has been argued that this work should be founded on theory that provides a foundation for understanding, designing, predicting, and evaluating dynamic implementation processes. This paper sets out core constituents of a general theory of implementation, building on Normalization Process Theory and linking it to key constructs from recent work in sociology and psychology. These are i...
Source: Implementation Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Health Management Authors: Carl May Source Type: research

Developing a measure of provider adherence to improve the implementation of behavioral health services in primary care: a Delphi study
Conclusions: This study yielded the first content valid self-report measure of critical components ofcollaborative care adherence for use by behavioral health providers in primary care. Althoughadditional psychometric evaluation is necessary, this measure may assist implementationresearchers in clarifying how provider behaviors contribute to clinical outcomes. Thismeasure may also assist clinical stakeholders in monitoring implementation and identifyingways to support frontline providers in delivering high quality services.
Source: Implementation Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Health Management Authors: Gregory BeehlerJennifer FunderburkKyle PossematoChristina Vair Source Type: research

Science communication: From page to screen
Nature 494, 7436 (2013). doi:10.1038/nj7436-271a Author: Kendall Powell As print dwindles and online platforms grow, job prospects are changing for science writers.
Source: Nature - February 13, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Kendall Powell Tags: Naturejobs Source Type: research

Seven days: 8–14 February 2013
Nature 494, 7436 (2013). http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/494152a The week in science: North Korea tests nuclear weapon; European leaders agree on seven-year budget; and the NSF’s director quits early.
Source: Nature - February 13, 2013 Category: Research Tags: Seven Days Source Type: research

AKT signalling is required for ribosomal RNA synthesis and progression of Eμ‐Myc B‐cell lymphoma in vivo
The dysregulation of PI3K/AKT/mTORC1 signalling and/or hyperactivation of MYC are observed in a high proportion of human cancers, and together they form a ‘super signalling’ network mediating malignancy. A fundamental downstream action of this signalling network is up‐regulation of ribosome biogenesis and subsequent alterations in the patterns of translation and increased protein synthesis, which are thought to be critical for AKT/MYC‐driven oncogenesis. We have demonstrated that AKT and MYC cooperate to drive ribosomal DNA (rDNA) transcription and ribosome biogenesis, with AKT being essential for rDNA transcriptio...
Source: FEBS Journal - February 13, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Jennifer R. Devlin, Katherine M. Hannan, Pui Y. Ng, Megan J. Bywater, Jake Shortt, Carleen Cullinane, Grant A. McArthur, Ricky W. Johnstone, Ross D. Hannan, Richard B. Pearson Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Systemic Administration of 8-OH-DPAT and Eticlopride, but not SCH23390, Alters Loss-Chasing Behavior in the Rat
tharine A Winstanley Keywords: 5-HT1A receptors; addiction & substance abuse; behavioral science; D2 receptors; gambling; loss-chasing; neurotransmitters; psychiatry & behavioral sciences
Source: Neuropsychopharmacology - February 13, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Robert D RogersAdeline WongChris McKinnonCatharine A Winstanley Tags: 5-HT1A receptors addiction & substance abuse behavioral science D2 receptors gambling loss-chasing neurotransmitters psychiatry behavioral sciences Source Type: research

Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor I (mGluR1) Antagonism Impairs Cocaine-Induced Conditioned Place Preference via Inhibition of Protein Synthesis
& Qing-song Liu Keywords: Addiction & Substance Abuse; Behavioral Science; Neuropharmacology; Glutamate; cocaine conditioned place preference; DHPG; protein synthesis; long-term depression; Group I mGluRs
Source: Neuropsychopharmacology - February 13, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Fei YuPeng ZhongXiaojie LiuDalong SunHai-qing GaoQing-song Liu Tags: Addiction & Substance Abuse Behavioral Science Neuropharmacology Glutamate cocaine conditioned place preference DHPG protein synthesis long-term depression Group I mGluRs Source Type: research

Parental Oxytocin and Early Caregiving Jointly Shape Children’s Oxytocin Response and Social Reciprocity
Parental Oxytocin and Early Caregiving Jointly Shape Children’s Oxytocin Response and Social Reciprocity Neuropsychopharmacology advance online publication, February 13 2013. doi:10.1038/npp.2013.22 Authors: Ruth Feldman, Ilanit Gordon, Moran Influs, Tamar Gutbir & Richard P Ebstein Keywords: behavioral Science; CD38; development / developmental disorders; Neuroendocrinology; Neuropeptides; OXTR; oxytocin; parenting; social reciprocity
Source: Neuropsychopharmacology - February 13, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Ruth FeldmanIlanit GordonMoran InflusTamar GutbirRichard P Ebstein Tags: behavioral Science CD38 development / developmental disorders Neuroendocrinology Neuropeptides OXTR oxytocin parenting social reciprocity Source Type: research

The party in your brain
(University of Exeter) The brains of Republicans and Democrats process risk differently according to new research.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

California's Tobacco Control Program generates huge health care savings, UCSF study shows
(University of California - San Francisco) Over a span of nearly 20 years, California's tobacco control program cost $2.4 billion and reduced health care costs by $134 billion, according to a new study by UC San Francisco.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Cracking the semantic code
(University of Bristol) Half of a word's meaning is simply a three dimensional summary of the rewards associated with it, according to an analysis of millions of blog entries undertaken by researchers from the University of Bristol and published today in PLOS ONE.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Association Between Long-Term Air Pollution and Increased Blood Pressure and Hypertension in China [Epidemiology/Population Science]
In conclusion, long-term exposure to PM10, SO2, and O3 was associated with increased arterial blood pressure and hypertension in the study population.
Source: Hypertension - February 13, 2013 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dong, G.-H., Qian, Z., Xaverius, P. K., Trevathan, E., Maalouf, S., Parker, J., Yang, L., Liu, M.-M., Wang, D., Ren, W.-H., Ma, W., Wang, J., Zelicoff, A., Fu, Q., Simckes, M. Tags: Other etiology Epidemiology/Population Science Source Type: research

Occupational Status Moderates the Association Between Current Perceived Stress and High Blood Pressure: Evidence From the IPC Cohort Study [Epidemiology/Population Science]
This study examined the association between current perceived stress and high BP, and explored the potential impact of occupational status on this association. Resting BP was measured in 122 816 adults (84 994 men), aged ≥30 years (mean age±standard deviation: 46.8±9.9 years), without history of cardiovascular and renal disease and not on either psychotropic or antihypertensive drugs. High BP was defined as systolic BP ≥140 mm Hg or diastolic BP ≥90 mm Hg. Perceived stress in the past month was measured with the 4-item perceived stress scale. A total of 33 154 participants (27.0%) had high BP (151&pl...
Source: Hypertension - February 13, 2013 Category: Cardiology Authors: Wiernik, E., Pannier, B., Czernichow, S., Nabi, H., Hanon, O., Simon, T., Simon, J.-M., Thomas, F., Bean, K., Consoli, S. M., Danchin, N., Lemogne, C. Tags: Epidemiology Epidemiology/Population Science Source Type: research

Mortality Benefits From US Population-wide Reduction in Sodium Consumption: Projections From 3 Modeling Approaches [Epidemiology/Population Science]
Computer simulations have been used to estimate the mortality benefits from population-wide reductions in dietary sodium, although comparisons of these estimates have not been rigorously evaluated. We used 3 different approaches to model the effect of sodium reduction in the US population over the next 10 years, incorporating evidence for direct effects on cardiovascular disease mortality (method 1), indirect effects mediated by blood pressure changes as observed in randomized controlled trials of antihypertension medications (method 2), or epidemiological studies (method 3).The 3 different modeling approaches were used to...
Source: Hypertension - February 13, 2013 Category: Cardiology Authors: Coxson, P. G., Cook, N. R., Joffres, M., Hong, Y., Orenstein, D., Schmidt, S. M., Bibbins-Domingo, K. Tags: Epidemiology/Population Science Source Type: research

Blood may hold clues to risk of memory problems after menopause, Mayo study finds
(Mayo Clinic) New Mayo Clinic research suggests that blood may hold clues to whether post-menopausal women may be at an increased risk for areas of brain damage that can lead to memory problems and possibly increased risk of stroke. The study shows that blood's tendency to clot may contribute to areas of brain damage called white matter hyperintensities. The findings are published in the Feb. 13 online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Threat bias interacts with combat, gene to boost PTSD risk
(NIH/National Institute of Mental Health) Soldiers preoccupied with threat at the time of enlistment or with avoiding it just before deployment were more likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in a study of Israeli infantrymen. Such pre-deployment threat vigilance and avoidance, interacting with combat experience and an emotion-related gene, accounted for more than a third of PTSD symptoms that emerged later.Computerized training that helps modify such attention biases might help protect soldiers from the disorder.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Recent marijuana use in HIV-infected Russians associated with increased sex and drug risk behaviors
(Boston University Medical Center) Researchers from Boston Medical Center and Boston University's School of Medicine and School of Public Health have found that in Russian HIV-infected risky drinkers, marijuana use is associated with other increased risky behaviors involving drug use and sex. These findings, published online in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, may aid clinicians and public health experts in detecting individuals at a higher risk of transmitting HIV.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Gene associated with high anxiety can have protective effect on the battlefield
(American Friends of Tel Aviv University) Tel Aviv University's Prof. Yair Bar-Haim reports that susceptibility to post-traumatic stress disorder can be identified through a combination of genetic and psychological testing. Through training, soldiers can learn to reduce their risk for PTSD, and testing could prove valuable in PTSD prevention for populations likely to be exposed to traumatic situations.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Consumer Group Wants Limits on Added Sugars in Beverages
Soda and other sugary drinks have unsafe levels of high-fructose corn syrup or other added sugars, a consumer group says, and it is urging the government to determine a safe level to reduce Americans' "dangerously high sugar consumption." The Center for Science in the Public Interest filed a petition today with the Food and Drug Administration urging the agency to identify a safe level for added sugars in beverages.
Source: RWJF News Digest - Childhood Obesity - February 13, 2013 Category: Eating Disorders and Weight Management Source Type: news

Rewiring the serotonin system
(University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston) An interdisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and the University of Houston has found a new way to influence the vital serotonin signaling system -- possibly leading to more effective medications with fewer side effects.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Facial structure may predict endorsement of racial prejudice
(Association for Psychological Science) The structure of a man's face may indicate his tendency to express racially prejudiced beliefs, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI demands a close look at rules of modern papal election
(Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News) The fascinating Conclaves system for electing a new pope, which has been in place since the late 1200s is described in Election Law Journal.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Why there are bad learners: EEG activity predicts learning success
(Ruhr-University Bochum) The reason why some people are worse at learning than others has been revealed by a research team from Berlin, Bochum, and Leipzig, operating within the framework of the Germany-wide network "Bernstein Focus State Dependencies of Learning". They have discovered that the main problem is not that learning processes are inefficient per se, but that the brain insufficiently processes the information to be learned. The researchers report in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Clues to chromosome crossovers
(University of California - Davis) Neil Hunter's laboratory in the UC Davis College of Biological Sciences has placed another piece in the puzzle of how sexual reproduction shuffles genes while making sure sperm and eggs get the right number of chromosomes.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Epigenetics shapes fate of brain vs. brawn castes in carpenter ants
(University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine) Researchers found that epigenetic regulation is key to distinguishing one caste of carpenter ant, the "majors," as brawny Amazons of the colony, compared to the "minors", their smaller, brainier sisters. The two castes have the same genes, but strikingly distinct behaviors and shape.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Happily married couples consider themselves healthier, expert says
(University of Missouri-Columbia) A University of Missouri expert says that people who have happy marriages are more likely to rate their health as better as they age; aging adults whose physical health is declining could especially benefit from improving their marriages.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Hiding in plain sight: How invisibility saved New Mexico's Jicarilla Apache
(Southern Methodist University) North America's Jicarilla Apache was the last tribe to avoid forced settlement onto a reservation. How they did it has been a mystery of the historical American Southwest -- until now. "This was not an accident of history," says anthropologist Sunday Eiselt, Southern Methodist University, Dallas. The Jicarilla became invisible to government authorities. Without firing a shot they not only avoided confinement and even extermination for nearly two centuries, they also rescued their culture from extinction.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

By guessing, clinicians may miss 3/4 of alcohol problems
(University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio) Brief alcohol screening questions far outperform clinician intuition in identifying people with alcohol problems, a new study shows.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Opera's poisons and potions connect students with chemistry
(American Chemical Society) Opera audiences can feel the chemistry in romance-inspired classics like Mimi's aria from La Bohème, Cavaradossi's remembrance of his beloved while awaiting execution in Tosca and that young lady pining for her man with "O mio babbino caro" in the opera Gianni Schicchi. An article in ACS' Journal of Chemical Education, however, focuses on the real chemistry -- of poisons and potions -- that intertwines famous operatic plots.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

New citation indicators needed to measure research performance
(European Molecular Biology Organization) How do you compare the impact of a researcher in chemistry or physics with a molecular biologist who may be working on similar projects? In an article published today in EMBO reports two experts support the use of citation indicators that are based on percentiles, a statistical parameter that allows for comparisons with a carefully defined group of reference data. Journal impact factors and h-index alone do not make the grade.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Valentine's Day tales of romance and chemistry
(American Chemical Society) With Valentine's Day tomorrow, the popular Newscripts page in Chemical & Engineering News cast its net for tales of chemistry and romance and hauled in a catch that includes fake Viagra and the love life of that totally unlovable pest -- the bedbug. C&EN is the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Clinician-powered EHR selection resource announces new content provider
(American College of Physicians) The National eHealth Collaborative, a public-private partnership that enables secure and interoperable nationwide health information exchange to advance health and improve health care, has joined AmericanEHR Partners as a content provider, joining more than 20 professional societies that support the free online resource.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

MIND Institute researchers receive $1 million grant to study cognitive training in fragile X
(University of California - Davis Health System) Researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute will examine whether children and youth with fragile X syndrome can improve their working memory, cognition and behavior by using an online computer-based cognitive training program, through a new one million dollar grant from the John Merck Fund.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Major project on the quality of life for disadvantaged young people in Europe
(University of Bielefeld) The European Union is investing 2.5 million Euro in the "SocIEtY" research project launched on Friday, Feb. 1. A total of 40 social scientists will be carrying out comparative national studies on how far young people are able to participate in society in a self-determined way and exploit their developmental opportunities. The major project is being coordinated by the Bielefeld Center for Education and Capability Research at Bielefeld University.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

3 'Bigfoot' genomes sequenced in 5-year DNA study
(DNA Diagnostics) Scientists report on the next-generation sequencing of three whole nuclear genomes from a novel contemporary hominin in North America and associated studies.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

We're emotionally distant and that's just fine by me
(Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health) When it comes to having a lasting and fulfilling relationship, common wisdom says that feeling close to your romantic partner is paramount. But a new study finds that it's not how close you feel that matters most, it's whether you are as close as you want to be, even if that's really not close at all.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Carnegie Mellon brain imaging research shows how unconscious processing improves decision-making
(Carnegie Mellon University) When faced with a difficult decision, it is often suggested to "sleep on it" or take a break from thinking about the decision to gain clarity. But new brain imaging research from Carnegie Mellon finds that the brain regions responsible for making decisions continue to be active even when the conscious brain is distracted with a different task. The research shows the brain unconsciously processes decision information in ways that lead to improved decision-making.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Study in mice yields Angelman advance
(Brown University) In the journal PLOS Biology, a team of scientists reports experiments showing how the gene defect of Angelman syndrome disrupts neurological processes that may be needed for memory and learning. In tests in mice, the team showed that a novel compound could restore the healthy processes.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

A neural basis for benefits of meditation
(Brown University) Mindfulness meditation training in awareness of present moment experience, such as body and breath sensations, prevents depression and reduces distress in chronic pain. In a new paper, Brown University scientists propose a neurophysiological framework to explain these clinical benefits.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Deaths of endangered fish curtail water exports
State and federal water managers have reduced exports to the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California after too many delta smelt die at the delta's export pumps.In a step that has become more routine over the last decade, water exports to the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California have been reduced to avoid killing endangered delta smelt.
Source: Los Angeles Times - Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Science Source Type: news

How does the medical graduates' self-assessment of their clinical competency differs from experts' assessment? a cross-sectional study
Conclusion: There was a wide discrepancy between the graduates' self-assessment and experts' assessment, particularly in the level of inadequate performance. Graduates in general, and those of younger age groups in particular, tend to overestimate their clinical skills and competency.
Source: BMC Medical Education - February 13, 2013 Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: Fatima AbadelAbdulla Hattab Source Type: research

Scientists should advance management of behavioral norms
(American Institute of Biological Sciences) Governments must learn how to manage social norms so as to persuade the broader population to accept pro-environment measures. The academy can help by studying how norms are adopted, and in particular how behavior influences norms. But researchers must also examine their own professional norms in order to be work better with policymakers.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 13, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news