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Science News Archive 2012 - Page 79


Page 79 of 333

Nano-hillocks: Of mountains and craters

A team of researchers from Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf and TU Vienna discovered that highly charged ions can create nano-hillocks or craters on surfaces. The formation depends on the ion beam's charge state and kinetic energy, with nano-hillocks forming at higher energies.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateOct 1, 2012

Putting a 'HEX' on muscle regeneration

Researchers found that HEXIM1 blocks gene expression necessary for muscle regeneration after injury, leading to increased muscle mass and function in mice with reduced HEXIM1 levels. This suggests that HEXIM1 may be a key regulator of skeletal muscle regeneration and a potential therapeutic target for degenerative muscle diseases.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateOct 1, 2012

Tree rings go with the flow of the Amazon

Researchers have used tree rings from cedar trees in Bolivia to record a 100-year history of rainfall across the Amazon basin. The study found that lowland tropical cedar trees provide a natural archive of data closely related to historic rainfall, allowing for a detailed understanding of past climate variability.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 1, 2012

Preoperative needle breast biopsies can lead to improved treatment outcomes

A new study published in the Journal of American College of Surgeons found that needle biopsies can lead to improved treatment outcomes for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Patients who underwent needle biopsies were more likely to have adequate tumor excision and lymph node assessment compared to those who received open biopsies.

SourceAmerican College of Surgeons·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateOct 1, 2012

AGU journal highlights -- 1 October 2012

Scientific studies reveal pros and cons of free market approach to water trading in Australia's Murray Darling Basin. Researchers also uncover connections between typhoon tracks, rainfall patterns, and flood timing, with potential applications for improved real-time flood warning systems.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateOct 1, 2012

Sea-level study shows signs of things to come

A new study predicts that sea levels will continue to rise for thousands of years due to irreversible warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions. The research suggests that the Earth's ice sheets and oceans will contribute significantly to this rise, with a possible increase of up to 6.8 meters in the next thousand years.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateOct 1, 2012

First images of Landau levels revealed

Scientists at the University of Warwick and Tohoku University have directly imaged Landau Levels, showing concentric rings that increase according to energy level. The discovery uses scanning tunnelling spectroscopy to overcome material disorder, shedding light on the quantum Hall effect.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateOct 1, 2012

Restricting nuclear power has little effect on the cost of climate policies

A recent study by Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research found that restricting nuclear power has minimal effect on the cost of climate policies. The researchers discovered that early retirement of nuclear power plants would lead to cumulative global GDP losses amounting to around 10-20 percent of climate policy costs.

SourcePotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 1, 2012

Marine animals could hold the key to looking young

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London discovered genes in sea urchins and sea cucumbers that can change collagen elasticity, potentially leading to new ways to keep skin looking young and healthy. The study found peptides that cause rapid stiffening or softening of collagen, which could be used to combat aging-related wrinkles.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalGeneral and Comparative Endocrinology·DateOct 1, 2012

The obese brain may thwart weight loss

Research indicates diets high in saturated fat and refined sugar may impair brain function in obese individuals, leading to increased overconsumption of high-calorie foods. Obesity-related changes may also lead to permanent cognitive decline, making it a lifelong battle to maintain weight loss.

SourceAmerican University·JournalPhysiology & Behavior·DateOct 1, 2012

Evidence-based guidelines enable optimal treatment of common low-back pain

A set of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines has been established to guide the diagnosis and treatment of low-back pain in the US. The guidelines recommend careful observation, over-the-counter pain medication, and targeted physical activity for most patients, while reserving imaging and surgery for specific cases with red flags.

SourceMedical College of Georgia at Augusta University·JournalJournal of the American College of Radiology·DateOct 1, 2012

No relief for relief workers: Humanitarian aid work raises risk of depression and anxiety

A new study finds that humanitarian aid workers are at significant risk for mental health problems in the field and after returning home. The risk factors include a history of mental illness, weak social support, and continual exposure to a challenging work environment, rather than experiencing particular dangerous situations.

The chemical memory of seawater

Researchers have identified thousands of individual components in dissolved organic matter (DOM) in seawater using ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry. This allows them to infer information about the water's past, including its age, exposure to sunlight, and even which marine life once inhabited it.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalBiogeosciences·DateOct 1, 2012

UCLA-led study finds direct correlation between hospital bedsores, patient mortality

A new clinical study by UCLA researchers found a direct correlation between pressure ulcers, or bedsores, and patient mortality, as well as longer hospital stays and readmissions. The study tracked over 51,000 Medicare beneficiaries and found that seniors with bedsores were more likely to die during their hospital stay.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateOct 1, 2012

Breast cancer recurrence defined by hormone receptor status

New research reveals that women with HER2 positive breast cancer that is also hormone (estrogen and progesterone) receptor negative have an increased risk of early death and less likely to recur in bone compared to those with hormone-sensitive cancer. The study suggests HR status defines two different subsets of HER2 positive cancers.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBreast Cancer Research·DateSep 30, 2012

The genetics of white finger disease

A study published in Clinical Epigenetics found that individuals with a specific genetic variation in SIRT1 are more likely to develop vibration-induced white finger disease. The research suggests that testing for this variant before starting work with vibrating machinery could prevent years of pain and disability.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalClinical Epigenetics·DateSep 30, 2012

New weapons in the fight against cancer

Several new first-in-human studies for drugs targeting a range of cancers have shown promising results, including the development of MEK-, MET- and HSP90 inhibitors as well as immunotherapeutic strategies. Studies have demonstrated significant activity in ALK-positive lung cancer resistant to crizotinib and other targeted therapies.

SourceEuropean Society for Medical Oncology·JournalAnnals of Oncology·DateSep 30, 2012