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Science News for December 12, 2011


A small step for lungfish, a big step for the evolution of walking

African lungfish demonstrates unique walking behavior using its thin pelvic limbs, propelling itself forward and lifting its body off the bottom surface. This discovery suggests that many developments necessary for the transition from water to land could have occurred in lobe-finned ancestors of the lungfish long before early tetrapods.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 12, 2011

Variations in cardiac procedures related to physician recommendations and hospital characteristics

Researchers analyzed data from 8972 patients with heart blockages to understand variations in cardiac procedures, including bypass surgery and stent placement. They found significant differences in procedure rates based on patient factors, physician recommendations, and hospital characteristics.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateDec 12, 2011

Scientists discover new way to target cancer

Researchers at UWE Bristol and University of Bristol discovered that mutations in one specific cancer gene can control splicing balance, allowing a master switch to be turned on. This enables the growth of cancer cells and blood vessels, but new drugs targeting this process may block tumour growth.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalCancer Cell·DateDec 12, 2011

Artificially enhanced athletes

A study from Northwestern University found that banned technical swimsuits played a significant role in the unprecedented number of world records set in swimming during the 2009 world championships. The suits were suspected of reducing drag, improving buoyancy, and compressing muscles, leading to enhanced performance.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalThe Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research·DateDec 12, 2011

Affordable solar?

A new analysis by Michigan Technological University researchers suggests that solar photovoltaic systems can make electricity cheaper than what consumers pay their utilities. The study reveals that previous assumptions about the cost of solar energy were overly conservative, and that the true cost of photovoltaic technology is lower th...

SourceMichigan Technological University·JournalRenewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews·DateDec 12, 2011

Blood pressure monitoring: Room for improvement

Inaccurate blood pressure measurements from faulty techniques result in misclassified patients and potentially different treatment decisions. A study published by the University of New Mexico found that 93% of patients have different blood pressure readings when using outdated versus updated guidelines.

SourceSpringer·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateDec 12, 2011

UC Davis researcher develops model to foster new drug development to treat pain and epilepsy

A UC Davis School of Medicine researcher has developed an algorithm that predicts the conformation changes in voltage-gated sodium channels, crucial for designing new drugs to treat chronic pain and epilepsy. This innovation could lead to highly specific and effective therapies with minimal side effects.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 12, 2011

Autism researchers make exciting strides

A new study by Michigan State University researcher Brooke Ingersoll found that teaching imitation skills to toddlers and preschoolers with autism improves key areas of deficit, such as eye contact and gestures. The findings come at a pivotal time in autism research, which is detecting behaviors and symptoms earlier than ever before.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·DateDec 12, 2011

2-faced leukemia?

A study found that half of tumors from T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) patients expressed genes normally found in stem cells and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) tumors. Additionally, many of these AML-like T-ALL tumors contained specific mutations associated with cancer progression.

SourceRockefeller University Press·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateDec 12, 2011

How long do electrons live in graphene?

Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf have measured the lifetime of electrons in graphene in lower energy ranges. The study reveals that the energy of light particles and atomic lattice oscillations influence electron lifetimes, with longer lifetimes observed when excitation energies are lower than lattice oscillations.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateDec 12, 2011

It's all in the wrapping

A new device, designed to mimic the periosteum, has shown promising results in healing critical-sized bone defects in sheep. The device delivers stem cells, growth factors, and natural components of the periosteum to promote bone growth, and can be used for a range of applications beyond bone healing.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 12, 2011

As climate change sets in, plants and bees keep pace

Research by Cornell University and Rutgers University found that bees and flowering plants are keeping pace with climate change, arriving earlier in the spring. This shift has been observed since 1970, when warming temperatures accelerated most rapidly, according to the study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 12, 2011

Alcohol can lead to unsafe sex: It's official

A new study published in Addiction journal found that alcohol consumption directly impacts a person's intention to have unsafe sex. The study analyzed 12 experiments and found a significant increase in the likelihood of unprotected sex with rising blood alcohol levels.

SourceWiley·JournalAddiction·DateDec 12, 2011

Making copies at the right time

Researchers at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia have uncovered a molecular mechanism that enables cells to accurately inherit non-genetic information, such as protein structures. This epigenetic memory is crucial for maintaining genome organization and preventing errors in cell division, which can lead to cancer.

SourceInstituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateDec 12, 2011

The paradox of gift giving: More not better, says new study

A new study finds that gift givers who bundle an expensive gift with a smaller item tend for recipients to perceive the overall package as less valuable. This phenomenon, known as the Presenter's Paradox, can be seen in various contexts beyond gift giving, including presentations of information and decision-making processes.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateDec 12, 2011

JCI online early table of contents: Dec. 12, 2011

Researchers have identified a protein that contributes to brain tumor resistance to chemotherapy, while also developing a way to predict which liver transplant patients can be weaned off immunosuppressive drugs. High levels of APNG in GBM cells correlated with poorer survival rates, suggesting it may serve as a biomarker for treatment ...

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateDec 12, 2011

Jumping droplets take a lot of heat

Duke University engineers developed a way to produce thermal diodes that can transfer heat in both directions, overcoming existing limitations. The method uses self-propelled water droplets to transport heat, enabling applications in energy-efficient solar panels and compact electronics.

SourceDuke University·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateDec 12, 2011

A logistics approach to malaria in Africa

A comprehensive supply chain map reveals challenges in accessing anti-malarial drugs in Africa due to economic, political and infrastructural barriers. Local transport options like donkey carts and bicycles should be considered for rural areas.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Logistics Systems and Management·DateDec 12, 2011

The brain on trial

Experts discuss how advances in neuroscience affect the judicial system, from challenging legal policies to aiding in diagnoses of psychological conditions. Brain maturity is a critical issue in assessing teenage crimes, while addiction affects sentencing decisions.

How brain tumors invade

Researchers identified a key protein mutation that enables brain tumors to invade healthy brain tissue. Excessive epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signals trigger the production of GBP1, rendering tumors more invasive and allowing them to spread into surrounding tissue.

SourceRockefeller University Press·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateDec 12, 2011

Strip-till improves nutrient uptake and yield

Researchers found that strip-till improved nutrient uptake and increased yield in soybeans, but had no impact on yield when fertilizers were applied through broadcast or deep banding methods. Subsurface banding of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers may reduce surface phosphorus levels and offer environmental benefits.

The case of the dying aspens

New research by William Anderegg and colleagues reveals that carbon starvation is unlikely to be the primary cause of tree death during droughts. The study found significant losses of function in the trees' water-transportation systems, especially in the roots, resulting in a 70% loss of water conductivity.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 12, 2011

Immunity against the cold

A team of researchers at UCSF has discovered that tiny immune cells called macrophages can switch on the brown fat in response to cold temperatures, inducing it to burn energy and produce heat. This finding suggests that the immune system plays a role in thermoregulation, potentially leading to new strategies for enhancing metabolism.