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Science News for April 29, 2009


Avian flu research sheds light on swine flu outbreak

Researchers found that after reassortment with a human influenza virus, an avian flu virus requires relatively few mutations to spread rapidly between mammals by respiratory droplets. This process is similar to the formation of the current swine flu outbreak, suggesting a potential link between avian and human influenza viruses.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 29, 2009

A glimpse at vision: First impressions count

Researchers at Children's Hospital Boston demonstrate that the brain can recognize objects quickly and consistently, even under different lighting conditions, size, and rotation. This finding could lead to advancements in teaching computers to see and improving brain-computer interfaces for individuals with visual impairment.

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·JournalNeuron·DateApr 29, 2009

Resolving a galactic mystery

A deep Chandra X-ray image has resolved a long-standing mystery about an X-ray glow along the plane of the Galaxy. The image reveals hundreds of point-like X-ray sources causing the glow, implying millions of such sources are responsible.

SourceChandra X-ray Center·JournalNature·DateApr 29, 2009

Genetic risk for anxiety does not have to be destiny

A new study challenges the idea that individuals with certain genotypes are predestined to negative life outcomes. Infants raised in small social groups were more likely to be aggressive and anxious, particularly those with a low activity MAOA genotype. However, no genotype effects were evident in monkeys reared in larger social cages.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateApr 29, 2009

Quantum link to memory

Researchers are investigating whether mathematical similarities between word associations and quantum theory could lead to new models of how humans process words and meaning. The study aims to gain an understanding of the intriguing connections between cognitive science and quantum theory.

Older men more likely than women to die after pneumonia

A recent study published in Critical Care Medicine found that older men are at a higher risk of death from community-acquired pneumonia compared to women. The researchers discovered that men's bodies respond differently to infection, leading to a stronger inflammatory and coagulation response, which may break up blood clots more quickly.

Iron-arsenic superconductors in class of their own

Physicists at Ames Laboratory have demonstrated that the superconductivity mechanism in iron-arsenide superconductors is unique compared to all other known classes of superconductors. The team found a power-law variation of London penetration depth, suggesting electron pairing different from any other known superconductor.

SourceDOE/Ames National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 29, 2009

Nanophysicists find unexpected magnetic effect

Researchers found that the last atom in a line of single-atom contacts behaves differently than expected, altering the defining properties of ferromagnetic metals. The Kondo effect is observed in these tiny contacts, contradicting conventional wisdom about metal behavior at the nanoscale.

SourceRice University·JournalNature·DateApr 29, 2009

New pill to treat MS

A new study shows that taking cladribine tablets just a few times a year can dramatically reduce the chances of a relapse or deterioration of multiple sclerosis. Patients who took part in the trial suffered very few side effects, making it an effective oral therapy without constant injections.

Half a glass of wine a day may boost life expectancy by 5 years

A study of 1,373 men found that light long-term alcohol consumption, especially wine, was associated with a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and death from all causes. Moderate wine consumption was linked to an extended life expectancy of around five years in men.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health·DateApr 29, 2009

Oxytocin: Love potion #1?

Researchers found that oxytocin increased positive communication behavior in relation to negative behavior, reducing salivary cortisol levels. The study evaluated real-time natural couple behavior in the laboratory, providing new insights into the effects of social interaction on mental health.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateApr 29, 2009

Simulated gene therapy

Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley and Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed a comprehensive numerical study of gene therapy. The research sheds light on the key factors that determine the success of dendrimers as gene delivery vehicles, including the charges of the dendrimers and their target cell membranes.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateApr 29, 2009

Limping rat provides sciatica insights

Researchers developed an animal model for sciatica, a painful nerve condition characterized by numbness, pain, and leg difficulties. The study found that immune system activation contributes to symptoms, with elevated IL-17 levels linked to physical symptoms.

SourceDuke University·JournalSpine·DateApr 29, 2009

Repeatedly working when ill boosts risk of long term sick leave

Research published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that repeatedly going to work when ill increases the chances of taking long-term sick leave. Workers who did this at least half a dozen times were more likely to take extended absences, even after accounting for other risk factors.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health·DateApr 29, 2009

Drugs needed to preserve eggs for reproduction need to be given in stages

Researchers developed a mathematical model predicting optimal time for loading and unloading cryoprotectants, which reduces egg size shifts and improves fertilization chances. Using sugars like trehalose, these staged drugs can help preserve eggs at subzero temperatures, enabling easier transportation and potential transplantation.

SourceMedical College of Georgia at Augusta University·JournalMolecular Reproduction and Development·DateApr 29, 2009

Tiny differences in our genes help shed light on the big picture of human history

Scientists have developed a new tool to identify big events in human history by examining tiny genetic differences. This research, published in the journal Genetics, confirms a major decline in European populations 32,500-47,500 years ago and helps pinpoint gene mutations linked to diseases such as cancer and heart disease.

Darwin in a test tube

Researchers at Scripps Research develop molecules that can evolve and compete for resources, demonstrating niche partitioning in coevolution. The study shows how different species adapt to specific food sources over time, a classic concept in Darwinian evolution.

SourceScripps Research Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 29, 2009