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Science News for September 27, 2011


Assessing California earthquake forecasts

UC Davis researchers compare seven different earthquake forecasts to identify the most accurate methods for predicting earthquake locations. The study finds that all seven forecasts showed some utility in forecasting earthquake locations, with the UC Davis group's forecast being the most accurate.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 27, 2011

Quantum teleportation analysed by mathematical separation tool

Researchers from the University of Vienna have proven that the entanglement or separability of a quantum state depends on the perspective used to assess its status. By using mathematical density matrices, they showed how different factorisations can lead to entanglement or separability in complex physical systems.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateSep 27, 2011

Rhode Island Hospital finds lack of testing for Legionella

A study by Rhode Island Hospital found that current guidelines for testing patients with possible community-acquired pneumonia due to Legionella may underestimate the number of cases. The researchers suggest more comprehensive Legionella testing in patients hospitalized with pneumonia, which could identify additional cases and provide ...

SourceLifespan·JournalBMC Infectious Diseases·DateSep 27, 2011

US Department of Energy PECASE recipients

Thirteen US Department of Energy researchers have been awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) for their innovative work in various fields. The award recognizes their contributions to advancing energy independence and national security, as well as their commitment to mentoring and community ser...

New modeling of brain's circuitry may bring better understanding of Parkinson's disease

Researchers developed a mathematical model of the brain's neural circuitry to better understand how Parkinson's disease patients' brains transmit information incorrectly. The model reveals that repetitious neuron firing can lead to overly synchronized brain activity, which could aid in developing therapies for Parkinson's disease.

New nanostructure-based process will streamline production of magnetic materials

Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have developed a simplified method to create ordered magnetic materials using nanostructures, achieving room-temperature ferromagnetism with fewer steps than before. The process uses block copolymers to confine magnetic particles, inducing stronger interactions and yielding stable m...

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 27, 2011

Journal focuses on Savannah River National Labratory, Chernobyl Laboratory collaboration

Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River National Laboratory and Ukraine's International Radioecology Laboratory collaborated on a special issue of the Health Physics Journal, publishing studies on environmental radiation monitoring, decommissioning Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant cooling ponds, and radioecology re...

SourceDOE/Savannah River National Laboratory·JournalHealth Physics·DateSep 27, 2011

Tendons absorb shocks muscles won't handle

Researchers at Brown University discovered that tendons absorb shocks and store energy, while muscles take on the role of absorbing remaining energy after impact. This finding highlights the critical role of tendons in shock absorption and has implications for the development of synthetic tendons and rehabilitative practices.

Window of opportunity to treat some stroke patients may be longer than originally suspected

A literature review suggests that some stroke patients can receive treatment beyond the standard 3-hour window, with brain cells remaining structurally intact and potentially revivable if normal blood flow is restored. This finding could enable doctors to provide better patient care by considering the 'tissue window' rather than just time

Marcellus shale science target of $2.5 million NSF grant

A $2.5 million NSF grant will support a program aimed at enhancing the public's understanding of science, engineering, and energy through community-based activities in Pennsylvania counties with natural gas exploration and production. The project will provide opportunities for residents to gain skills in scientific inquiry and build an...

Worm 'cell death' discovery could lead to new drugs for deadly parasite

Researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have identified a 'programmed cell death' pathway in parasitic worms that could one day lead to new treatments for schistosomiasis. The discovery was made by studying programmed cell death in human cells, where the team found similarities with the process in fluke worms.

SourceWalter and Eliza Hall Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 27, 2011

A labor saving way to monitor vast rangelands

USDA researchers explore the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to monitor changing land-use patterns in western rangelands. The results show that aerial data can be comparable to information gathered through ground-based surveys, with potential applications for erosion control and invasive species monitoring.

SourceUnited States Department of Agriculture - Research, Education and Economics·JournalPhotogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing·DateSep 27, 2011

Enzymes possible targets for new anti-malaria drugs

Scientists at Virginia Tech and Penn have identified two enzymes, peptidases, as potential targets for new anti-malarial drugs. The researchers developed chemical genetic tools to specifically inhibit these enzymes, blocking hemoglobin degradation and starving the malaria parasite to death.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 27, 2011

Saw palmetto no benefit as prostate remedy

A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that saw palmetto extract did not relieve symptoms of an enlarged prostate, even at high doses. The research involved over 300 men with moderate symptoms and took a placebo or saw palmetto for nearly 17 months.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalJournal of the American Medical Association·DateSep 27, 2011

Central Asia's hidden burden of neglected tropical diseases

The region's high rates of parasitic infection are nearly 20 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, particularly among economically disadvantaged groups. Soil-transmitted helminth infections have been linked to developmental delays and decreased economic productivity in countries like Uzbekistan.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateSep 27, 2011