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Science News for July 6, 2011


Nano detector for deadly anthrax

Researchers developed a portable nano detector that can identify anthrax in 15 minutes, detecting as few as 40 microscopic cells. The device uses PCR to amplify target DNA and integrates sample preparation, making it more convenient than existing systems.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Biomedical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology·DateJul 6, 2011

August 2011 Geology highlights

This article covers various geological topics from August 2011, including microbial activity in banded-iron formations, the San Andreas fault system's deformation patterns, and earthquake hazards. Researchers also investigated porosity redistribution in crystal-rich magmas and boundaries conditions on laboratory models of simple shear.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeology·DateJul 6, 2011

Can in-hospital falls really be prevented?

A literature review published by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons found that many fall prevention initiatives used in healthcare facilities are ineffective in preventing hospital falls. The study suggests that hospitals may not be able to prevent most falls due to various risk factors beyond their control.

SourceAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons·DateJul 6, 2011

Future labor shortfalls of medical professionals predicted due to new demands of health-care reform

A study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons predicts a shortfall in the combined workforce of physicians, advance practice nurses, and physician assistants over the next two decades. The US will face serious shortages if an adequate supply of advanced medical professionals is not met.

SourceWeber Shandwick Worldwide·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateJul 6, 2011

New psychotherapy intervention improves end-of-life experience for dying patients and helps their relatives

A new psychotherapy intervention, dignity therapy, significantly improves quality of life and enhances the dignity of patients at the end of life, while helping their families. The study found that dignity therapy reduces distress and enriches the end-of-life experience compared to standard palliative care and client-centred care.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·DateJul 6, 2011

Combination therapy as good as old regimen to prevent full-blown TB in people with/without HIV

A new combination therapy of rifapentine and isoniazid, taken once weekly for three months, has been shown to be as effective as traditional daily treatment in preventing latent tuberculosis in people with and without HIV. The study found that 95% of participants completed the treatment, compared to 60% or less with traditional therapy.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJul 6, 2011

Discovering the bigger picture in chromosomes

A research team from Kansas State University has found that the chromosome sizes within each eukaryotic species are similar rather than drastically different, and share a similar distribution pattern. This discovery will help scientists better predict evolutionary adaptations and understand core components of biological evolution.

SourceKansas State University·JournalMolecular Biology and Evolution·DateJul 6, 2011

Outcomes for cardiac valve procedure patients are affected by insurance status

A study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons found that cardiac valve procedure patients' outcomes are influenced by their primary insurance type. Uninsured and Medicaid patients experienced higher risks of mortality, longer hospital stays, and increased total costs compared to those with private insurance.

SourceWeber Shandwick Worldwide·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateJul 6, 2011

London bombing memories explored

A special issue of Memory Studies explores how mass-mediated commemoration affects the London bombings, highlighting shifts between social engagement and memorialization. Researchers analyzed media coverage and personal memories to understand the complexities of remembrance and trauma.

SourceSAGE·JournalMemory Studies·DateJul 6, 2011

Future fire -- still a wide open climate question

A future climate is likely to lead to an increase in the frequency and intensity of wildfires, according to CSIRO's Dr Melita Keywood. The complex relationship between fire and climate change requires closer scientific attention to predict fire occurrence and understand its impacts on atmospheric chemistry.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalCritical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology·DateJul 6, 2011

What causes brain cancer?

Researchers have discovered potential regulatory networks in glioblastoma using microRNAs and transcription factors. The study identified 54 feed-forward loops with functions important to carcinogenesis and unique functions specific to each FFL.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Computational Biology and Drug Design·DateJul 6, 2011

An unhealthy lifestyle is associated with sexual dysfunction

A new study reveals that several unhealthy lifestyle factors, including weight problems, physical inactivity, and hard drug use, are associated with an increased risk of sexual dysfunctions in both men and women. The study found that up to 91% of women and 78% of men without a partner-related sex life had unhealthy lifestyles.

SourceWiley·JournalThe Journal of Sexual Medicine·DateJul 6, 2011

Vertebrate jaw design locked early

A new study suggests that vertebrate jaws evolved relatively early, around 420 million years ago, and that the diversity of feeding mechanisms in these early animals had little impact on jawless fishes. The researchers used physics and engineering concepts to analyze the potential feeding functions of early vertebrate jaw designs.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalNature·DateJul 6, 2011

Women still in grip of idealized love and sex, purveyed by romantic fiction

A recent study suggests that romantic fiction continues to shape women's perceptions of idealized love and sex, potentially influencing negative attitudes towards condom use and non-consensual sex. The author argues that the genre can perpetuate unrealistic expectations and escapism, running counter to real-life health messages.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalJournal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care·DateJul 6, 2011

Unique gel capsule structure enables co-delivery of different types of drugs

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have designed a unique gel capsule structure that can co-deliver distinct drugs. The microcapsule's spatially-segregated compartments make it suitable for multi-drug encapsulation and release strategies, offering potential advantages such as synergistic effects and suppressed drug resistance.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalMacromolecular Rapid Communications·DateJul 6, 2011

Extremely rapid water: RUB scientists decipher a protein-bound water chain

Researchers from RUB-Department of Biophysics elucidated the proton pump mechanism of a cell-membrane protein in atomic detail, revealing that protein-bound water molecules play a decisive role. A chain of only three water molecules is formed for just a few thousandths of a second to transfer protons into the interior of the protein.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 6, 2011

The rise and rise of the flying reptiles

A new study by Katy Prentice shows that pterosaurs evolved in a unique way, specializing over 160 million years. The research found that pterosaurs remained conservative for 70 million years before experimenting with new modes of life, adapting to feed on different food sources and becoming larger.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalJournal of Systematic Palaeontology·DateJul 6, 2011

Climate change forces early spring

A University of Alberta study found that climate change has pushed the province's native wildflowers and trees into earlier blooming times, making them more vulnerable to frost damage. The average winter monthly temperature increased by 5.3 degrees Celsius over 70 years, with bloom dates advancing two weeks for early spring species

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalBioScience·DateJul 6, 2011

A look back: Berkeley Lab scientists raced to estimate oil flow from Deepwater Horizon macondo well

In June 2010, Berkeley Lab scientists quickly developed a simplified conceptual model and a coupled numerical model to estimate oil flow from the damaged wellhead. Their simulations predicted an oil flow rate of 60,000 to 100,000 barrels per day, which was later confirmed by a final estimate in August 2010.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 6, 2011

Berkeley Lab researchers apply NMR/MRI to microfluidic chromatography

Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a portable system for highly sensitive multi-dimensional chemical analysis by pairing NMR/MRI technology with microfluidic chromatography. This breakthrough enables real-time peak detection and chemical shift information for small molecules, demonstrating the unique power of magnetic resonance...

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalAnalytical Chemistry·DateJul 6, 2011

Can gulls smell out a good partner?

A recent study suggests that black-legged kittiwakes use body odor to determine genetic compatibility in potential partners. The research found distinct signatures of individual and sex-specific odors, which may play a role in mate choice.

Dealing with pollution James Bond style

A team of experts developed a high-tech, portable device to test soil for carcinogenic pollutants, providing fast and accurate results. The Safe Soil Tester can detect toxins in as little as 12 minutes, offering significant cost savings over traditional lab testing.

SourceEUREKA·DateJul 6, 2011