Study finds widespread use of opioid medications in nonsurgical hospital patients Significant variation in use shown in different regions of the country; hospitals that had higher prescribing rates also had higher rates of adverse events BOSTON ...

Women with asthma could face a delay in becoming pregnant Women with asthma could take longer to conceive, according to new research. The study, published online today (14 November 2013), in the European Respiratory Journal, adds new evidence ...

NHS 111 increases ambulance and urgent and emergency care use Call handling service did not reduce pressures during first year of operation, as intended The call handling service NHS 111 increased the use of ambulance and urgent and emergency care services ...

Resting pulse rates of UK pre-teens have risen during past 30 years Rise does not seem to be linked to overall weight gain; implications for future cardiovascular health The resting pulse rate of UK pre-teens may have risen by up to two beats a minute during ...

Moderate coffee consumption may reduce risk of type 2 diabetes by 25 percent The Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee highlights the latest research on coffee consumption in the prevention of type 2 diabetes 14 November, 2013 – Regular, moderate coffee consumption may ...

IU cognitive scientists ID new mechanism at heart of early childhood learning and social behavior Google Glass-like eye-tracking technology pinpoints hands as the object of parents' and toddlers' attention BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Shifting the emphasis from gaze ...

Novel gene therapy works to reverse heart failure Preclinical testing shows SUMO-1 gene therapy shrinks an enlarged heart, improves heart function, and blood flow Researchers at the Cardiovascular Research Center at Icahn ...

Astronomers reveal contents of mysterious black hole jets An international team of astronomers has answered a long standing question about the enigmatic jets emitted by black holes, in research published today in prestigious ...

Fatty acid produced by gut bacteria boosts the immune system New research from the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences in Japan sheds light on the role of gut bacteria on the maturation of the immune system and provides evidence supporting the use of butyrate as therapy for ...

Science on the trail of The Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood Mathematical modelling provides insights into the origins and evolution of folk tales New insights into the origins and development of folk tales such as Little Red Riding Hood are being provided by the ...

Researchers warn against high emissions from oil palm expansion in Brazil Expanding millions of hectares of Brazilian land to produce palm oil for food or for renewable, clean-burning biodiesel could result in extremely high emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) ...

Mystery explained: How a common chemo drug thwarts graft rejection in bone marrow transplants Results of a Johns Hopkins study may explain why a chemotherapy drug called cyclophosphamide prevents graft-versus-host (GVHD) disease in people who receive bone marrow transplants. ...

Early uses of chili peppers in Mexico Mixe-Zoquean cultures may have had multiple culinary uses for chili peppers Chili peppers may have been used to make spicy beverages thousands of years ago in Mexico, according to new research published November 13 in the ...

Scorpions use strongest defense mechanisms when under attack Scorpions tend to use their strongest defense mechanisms, according to new research published November 13 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Arie van der Meijden and colleagues at Centro de Investigação ...

The 'evolution' of Little Red Riding Hood New analysis reveals whether different folktales are related or not Evolutionary analysis can be used to study similarities among folktales, according to new research published November 13 in the open-access journal PLOS ...

Plasma experiment demonstrates admirable self-control Researchers exploit plasma self-organization as a path to economical fusion power A team of Chinese and American scientists has learned how to maintain high fusion performance under steady conditions by exploiting ...

Intranasal insulin improves cognitive function in patients with type 2 diabetes BOSTON – In recent years, the link between type 2 diabetes and dementia has become widely recognized. Older individuals with diabetes develop Alzheimer's disease ...

Fantastic phonons: Blocking sound, channeling heat with 'unprecedented precision' Imagine living on a bustling city block, but free from the noise of car horns and people on the street. The emerging field of phononics could one day make this ...

Feral cats avoid urban coyotes, are surprisingly healthy Study suggests urban coyotes may 'protect' certain wildlife from cats COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Cats that live outdoors in the city do their darnedest to steer clear of urban coyotes, a new study says. The cats cause less ...

NASA sees a re-awakening of ex-Depression 30W in a different ocean The former tropical storm known as 30W that moved from the western North Pacific Ocean basin into the northern Indian Ocean appears to be ramping up for a short stint at depression status again. ...

Lifting fusion power onto an (optimized) pedestal New insights into a fusion plasma's transport barrier promise to boost future reactor performance In a collaborative effort, researchers in the United States and the United Kingdom have developed a new technique that ...

New antenna spreads good vibrations in fusion plasma 'Shoelace Antenna' exploits naturally occurring resonant vibrations to regulate heat and particle flow through the plasma boundary in a tokamak fusion reactor If you want to catch a firefly, any old glass jar will ...

BUSM/BMC study shows decrease in sepsis mortality rates (Boston) – A recent study from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and Boston Medical Center (BMC) shows a significant decrease in severe sepsis mortality rates over the past 20 years. Looking ...

Expert assessment: Ocean acidification may increase 170 percent this century Substantial costs expected from coral reef loss and declines in shellfisheries; Cold water corals also at risk In a major new international report, experts conclude ...

Lignin-feasting microbe holds promise for biofuels Nature designed lignin, the tough woody polymer in the walls of plant cells, to bind and protect the cellulose sugars that plants use for energy. For this reason, lignin is a major challenge for those ...