Dating violence in adolescence not only takes a physical and emotional toll on young women, it also leads to less education and lower earnings later in life, according to a first-of-its-kind study led by a Michigan State University researcher.
A young woman’s educational performance may be hindered by her partner’s actions, such as destroying books or homework or causing injuries that prevent her from going to school. (more…)
Sleep helps the brain consolidate what we’ve learned, but scientists have struggled to determine what goes on in the brain to make that happen for different kinds of learned tasks. In a new study, researchers pinpoint the brainwave frequencies and brain region associated with sleep-enhanced learning of a sequential finger tapping task akin to typing, or playing piano.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — You take your piano lesson, you go to sleep and when you wake up your fingers are better able to play that beautiful sequence of notes. How does sleep make that difference? A new study helps to explain what happens in your brain during those fateful, restful hours when motor learning takes hold. (more…)
Scientists develop new way to detect threatening nanoparticles in food
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Over the last few years, the use of nanomaterials for water treatment, food packaging, pesticides, cosmetics and other industries has increased. For example, farmers have used silver nanoparticles as a pesticide because of their capability to suppress the growth of harmful organisms. However, a growing concern is that these particles could pose a potential health risk to humans and the environment. In a new study, researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a reliable method for detecting silver nanoparticles in fresh produce and other food products.
“More than 1,000 products on the market are nanotechnology-based products,” said Mengshi Lin, associate professor of food science in the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. “This is a concern because we do not know the toxicity of the nanoparticles. Our goal is to detect, identify and quantify these nanoparticles in food and food products and study their toxicity as soon as possible.” (more…)
A culturally tailored HIV prevention program developed and tested by investigators at UCLA and the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science has been shown to significantly reduce unprotected sex among bisexual black men.
The innovative approach, called Men of African American Legacy Empowering Self, or MAALES, is described in an article in the peer-reviewed journal AIDS. (more…)
Using neurofeedback techniques, Dr. Judson Brewer of Yale says he can teach people to “see” the subjective experience known to meditators as mindfulness. Brewer explains that too often we trip ourselves up when we get caught up in our own thinking. In the video and accompanying research papers, Brewer and colleagues describe how subjects can […]
Es hört sich nach einem Skandal an: Im Bioladen gebe es massenhaft gentechnisch verändertes Gemüse – und das ohne Kennzeichnung, hat das ZDF-Magazin WISO in seiner Sendung am 5. August berichtet. Was ist dran an der Geschichte?
17 von 37 getesteten Gemüseproben aus Bioläden seien im Labor als „gentechnisch verändert“ identifiziert worden. In Chicoree wurde genetisches Material der Sonnenblume, in Blumenkohl und Brokkoli Erbsubstanz des japanischen Rettichs nachgewiesen. Die Behauptung des ZDF ist dennoch schlicht falsch: Es handelt sich nicht um gentechnisch veränderte Organismen (GVOs) im Sinne der gebräuchlichen Definitionen – ansonsten wäre das Gemüse nicht nur im Bioladen mehr als unerwünscht, sondern schlicht illegal gewesen. Die EU erlaubt weder den Anbau noch den Import von gentechnisch verändertem Gemüse. (more…)
Two different versions of the same signaling protein tell a nerve cell which end is which, UA researchers have discovered. The findings could help improve therapies for spinal injuries and neurodegenerative diseases.
University of Arizona scientists have discovered an unknown mechanism that establishes polarity in developing nerve cells. Understanding how nerve cells make connections is an important step in developing cures for nerve damage resulting from spinal cord injuries or neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
In a study published on Aug. 12 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, UA doctoral studentSara Parker and her adviser, assistant professor of cellular and molecular medicine Sourav Ghosh, report that the decision which will be the “plus” and the “minus” end in a newborn nerve cell is made by a long and a short version of the same signaling molecule. (more…)
Baby rattlesnakes are born in July and August and will be active in the weeks ahead.
Experts on venomous creatures at the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center advise gardeners, hikers, youngsters and other citizens to be especially cautious about rattlesnakes in the weeks ahead. (more…)
