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Radical solution could avoid depletion of natural resources

A radical approach to managing natural resources could target the problem of their over-exploitation, such as in forests or fisheries, according to a new study.

Researchers say policies that decide how society uses natural resources could be inspired by nature, which creates sustainable ecosystems amid intense competition between species for limited resources.

Human competition for resources can encourage a race for new technologies to be developed and lead to environmental degradation and loss or decline of species.

Maternal smoking during pregnancy leaves its lasting mark on the child's genetic make-up

Maternal smoking during pregnancy is harmful to the unborn child as well as the mother. This is a known fact. "For the first time, we can now demonstrate that exposure to tobacco smoke also causes epigenetic changes in enhancers of gene expression," said Irina Lehmann, Environmental Immunologist at the UFZ. These deregulated enhancers are distributed throughout the child's entire genome.

Exercise counteracts sitting time

Office workers can stave off health problems associated with sitting down all day by regularly exercising, a new study has found.

Being physically active may offset some of the deleterious consequences of spending large amounts of time not being active, the paper published in BMC Public Health has revealed.

The study further emphasises the importance of physical activity in the promotion and maintenance of health.

Researchers discover that breast cancer tumor growth is dependent on lipid availability

In an article published in Nature Communications, the researchers report that breast cancer cells need to take up lipids from the extracellular environment in order to continue proliferating. The main protein involved in this process is LIPG, an enzyme found in the cell membrane (the layer that surrounds a cell) and without which tumour cell growth is arrested. Analyses of more than 500 clinical samples from patients with various kinds of breast tumour reveal that 85% have high levels of LIPG expression.

Sweet technique finds cause of sour oil and gas

HOUSTON - (April 5, 2016) - In at least one -- and probably many -- oil and gas drilling operations, the use of biocides to prevent the souring of hydrocarbons wastes money and creates an unnecessary environmental burden, according to researchers at Rice University.

The ups and downs of transportation within cells

How do cells avoid growing topsy-turvy? Growing so your top, front, bottom and back all wind up on the correct side requires a good sense of direction at the cellular level. A Hiroshima University research group has identified a familiar gene with an unexpected role in directing proteins around the cell.

Management efforts for elk and deer may not benefit all wildlife

It's no surprise that most conservation efforts in the United States focus on animals that are hunted. But a new study from Colorado State University researchers found that improving habitats for game animals has mixed consequences for other animals in the same setting.

The study calls for more scrutiny of and a more holistic approach to current management efforts.

Presently recommended exercise levels may be much more than needed for significant health benefits

Philadelphia, PA, April 4, 2016 - International physical activity guidelines generally recommend 150 minutes a week of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity, but a critical review of the literature indicates that just half this level of activity may still lead to marked health benefits, say experts in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology. They challenge physical activity and exercise guidelines development groups to update their recommendations to reflect the evidence.

Study examines bed bug infestations in 2,372 low-income apartments in New Jersey

In order to determine where bed bug outbreaks are occurring and the best way to prevent and control infestations, entomologists examined 2,372 apartments in New Jersey and looked at factors such as the age, race, and gender of the inhabitants. The results are published in the Journal of Medical Entomology.

Is it really give and take? New research examines how young people talk about oral sex

Popular culture may suggest we live in an era where men and women have achieved sexual equality. But new research finds that, when it comes to oral sex, disparities persist - and young men and women tend to gloss over these gender inequalities.

The study, conducted in England by University of the Pacific sociologist Ruth Lewis and Cicely Marston of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, appears online in the Journal of Sex Research.

Researchers document how broadbills make loud wing song

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Broadbills - birds found in some parts of Africa - produce a startlingly loud sound that they make with their wings to mark off territory. Males fly abruptly in a tight circle, landing where they began, and produce a klaxon-like sound - brreeeeet! - that they could also be using to attract females. Researchers have hypothesized that it is the outermost wing feathers that make the sound, but no studies have been conducted to verify this hypothesis.

Scientists reveal endocardial origin of liver vasculature

On March 29, Nature Genetics published a research article entitled "Genetic lineage tracing identifies endocardial origin of liver vasculature", from Prof. ZHOU Bin's lab at the Institute for Nutritional Sciences (INS), Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, CAS.

Fashion, function conflict in creating wearable technology

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The creation and use of wearable technology, such as Apple watches, Google Glass, and Fitbits, have drastically increased in recent years as technological advances have allowed manufacturers to create devices that were once only seen on science fiction shows. Now, researchers from the University of Missouri have found that the wearable technology industry often is hampered by communication breakdowns between technology engineers and fashion designers.

Live fast, die young

Two hundred and fifty-two million years ago, a series of Siberian volcanoes erupted and sent the Earth into the greatest mass extinction of all time. As a result of this mass extinction, known as the Permo-Triassic Mass Extinction, billions of tons of carbon were propelled into the atmosphere, radically altering the Earth's climate. Yet, some animals thrived in the aftermath and scientists now know why.

Gamblers Anonymous associated with progress, could benefit from more combined approach

TORONTO, April 5, 2016-- People who attended Gamblers Anonymous gambled less often, showed increased readiness for change and enhanced coping skills, but appeared to fair better when Gamblers Anonymous was combined with other therapeutic approaches, a comprehensive review has found.

Gamblers Anonymous is a twelve-step program for individuals with a gambling problem, based on peer support and a shared desire to stop gambling. About three to six per cent of the population experiences problem gambling, but the incidence is much higher within lower-income populations.