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Science News for October 7, 2010


Crop failures set to increase under climate change

A new study by the University of Leeds predicts that climate change will lead to more frequent and severe crop failures globally. However, the researchers suggest that adopting new crops that are more resilient to heat and water stress, combined with improved farming practices, can help mitigate these effects.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateOct 7, 2010

New tool in the fight against tuberculosis

A new tool has been developed to tackle tuberculosis by integrating genomic and metabolic data, enabling cell-scale simulations and biological strain design. The probabilistic regulation of metabolism (PROM) algorithm accurately predicts knockout phenotypes 95% of the time, paving the way for targeted research during dormancy.

SourceCarl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 7, 2010

Colorado researcher discovers mechanism for changing adult cells into stem-like cells

University of Colorado Cancer Center researcher Chuan-Yuan Li and his team have discovered that caspase genes, known as 'grim-reaper' genes, are the gatekeepers that allow differentiated adult cells to regress to undifferentiated stem-like cells. This breakthrough discovery could lead to more efficient use of induced pluripotent stem c...

Neural responses indicate our willingness to help

Researchers at the University of Zurich studied soccer fans' neural responses to ingroup and outgroup suffering, finding that brain regions associated with empathy for others' pain are activated when witnessing an ingroup suffer. This correlates with a greater willingness to help, whereas watching an outgroup suffer leads to decreased ...

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNeuron·DateOct 7, 2010

Melanoma uses body's immune system to spread to lungs

A study published in Cancer Research found that melanoma cells can use the body's immune system, specifically neutrophils, to control lung metastasis development. By disrupting the interaction between cancer cells and neutrophils, a therapy could decrease lung metastases by about 50 percent.

SourcePenn State·JournalCancer Research·DateOct 7, 2010

Genetically modified crop resistance to pests benefits non-modified crop, U of Minnesota study finds

A new study from the University of Minnesota found that genetically modified Bt corn reduces pest losses in both transgenic and non-transgenic corn. The study found that areawide suppression of European corn borer populations resulted in estimated annual losses of $1 billion, but also benefited non-Bt corn by 28-73% in neighboring states.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota·JournalScience·DateOct 7, 2010

Half-time gamblers give stock market insight

Researchers analyzed data from online football gamblers and found distinct changes in market odds reflecting match events. Gamblers exhibited long-range volatility correlations and traded more on outcomes with small odds, suggesting a preference for favored teams.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateOct 7, 2010

Grant advances quark-gluon plasma studies

The grant supports the lab's transition to analyzing data from a new detector, enabling researchers to identify 96% of subatomic particles in collisions. The project aims to study hot and dense matter, including its critical point, and understand the early state of the universe.

Deceitful lily fools flies

The Solomon's lily plant attracts drosophilid flies by mimicking the yeasty odor of fermentation using six chemicals. This deception is rooted in a deeply conserved neuronal pathway specifically tuned to yeast odors, exploiting an ancient instinct in flies for pollination and food.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology·JournalCurrent Biology·DateOct 7, 2010

Ultrasound device improves poor bone healing

Researchers used low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) to treat patients with delayed unions of the tibia, resulting in a 34% increase in bone mineral density. This non-invasive treatment modality shows promise as a viable option for patients suffering from these injuries.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Musculoskeletal Disorders·DateOct 7, 2010

Cheek swab may detect lung cancer

A new clinical study reveals a technique called partial wave spectroscopic microscopy can differentiate individuals with lung cancer from those without, even in lifetime smokers or COPD patients. The findings suggest that this minimally invasive test could lead to personalized screening for lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer deat...

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalCancer Research·DateOct 7, 2010

Stem cells shape up to their surroundings

Research in the Journal of Tissue Engineering reveals that stem cells detect surface features with mechanosensors, which modulate gene expression through biochemical signaling cascades. This understanding opens doors to develop improved clinical prostheses with topographies that directly modulate stem cell fate.

SourceSAGE Publications UK·JournalJournal of Tissue Engineering·DateOct 7, 2010

Stanford-led study disproves link between genetic variant, risk of coronary artery disease

A massive international study found no association between a genetic marker and the risk of coronary artery disease. The study analyzed data from over 17,000 patients with cardiovascular disease and 40,000 others, concluding that carrying a particular variant of the KIF6 gene does not indicate a greater risk for the disease.

SourceStanford Medicine·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateOct 7, 2010

Men perspire, women glow

New research published in Experimental Physiology found that men are more effective sweaters during exercise than women. Women need to get hotter before they start sweating, while men can sweat more efficiently with regular physical training.

SourceWiley·JournalExperimental Physiology·DateOct 7, 2010

Brown University chemists simplify biodiesel conversion

Researchers at Brown University have developed a new method for converting waste vegetable oil into biodiesel fuel, using a single reaction vessel and environmentally friendly catalysts. The process is six times faster than current methods, consuming less energy and reducing the use of toxic chemicals.

SourceBrown University·JournalOrganic & Biomolecular Chemistry·DateOct 7, 2010

Despite highest health spending, Americans' life expectancy falls behind other countries'

A study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that the US life expectancy has fallen behind other countries despite high health spending. The researchers attribute this failure to flaws in the overall healthcare system, including unregulated fee-for-service payments and reliance on specialty care.

Female fish flaunt fins to attract a mate

In a breakthrough study, researchers found that female cichlid fish develop exceptionally large pelvic fins, differing from male fins in shape and color. Males prefer females with larger pelvic fins, leading to the growth of disproportionately sized fins.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Evolutionary Biology·DateOct 7, 2010