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Science News for September 17, 2010


SHSU to study ballistics database

Sam Houston State University will study the use and effectiveness of the national Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) database to connect crimes to a single firearm. The research aims to identify best practices for improving the system's effectiveness and understand why some law enforcement agencies do not use it.

Pickle spoilage bacteria may help environment

Agricultural Research Service microbiologist Ilenys Pérez-Díaz and her colleagues discovered that certain Lactobacilli species can modify azo dyes into non-mutagenic substances. This finding has potential applications for wastewater treatment, making food-grade bacteria a promising option for cleaning up textile industry dye waste.

Gene limits learning and memory in mice

Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have found that deleting a certain gene in mice can improve their learning and memory abilities. The RGS14 gene, which is primarily active in one region of the hippocampus, appears to limit some forms of learning and memory when present.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 17, 2010

Light is the friend of lovers

Permanent night lighting affects songbirds' reproductive behavior, with males singing earlier and females laying eggs up to 1.5 days sooner in artificial light environments. This can lead to maladaptive mate-choice decisions, potentially impacting survival and fitness.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalCurrent Biology·DateSep 17, 2010

Researchers at SUNY Downstate find drug combination may treat traumatic brain injury

A study published in PLoS One suggests that minocycline plus N-acetylcysteine may be a valuable treatment for traumatic brain injury. Researchers at SUNY Downstate Medical Center found a synergistic improvement of cognition and memory after experimental traumatic brain injury, and are planning to bring this combination to clinical trials.

Less is more in the fight against terrorism

A mathematical analysis suggests that isolating terrorist network hubs is more effective than targeting the entire network. The study uses complex systems tools to analyze and model terrorist networks, finding that soft targets are not worth pursuing. Instead, focusing on the key hubs can lead to successful defeat.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations·DateSep 17, 2010