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Science News for August 23, 2012


Changing epidemiology of rare disease links sinus irrigation with contaminated tap water, 2 deaths

A new study links nasal irrigation with contaminated tap water to rare disease Naegleria fowleri infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports two fatal cases in Louisiana where the organism was found in home water systems, highlighting the importance of using safely treated water for sinus irrigation.

SourceInfectious Diseases Society of America·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·DateAug 23, 2012

Study reveals human drive for fair play

A new study funded by the Wellcome Trust found that humans tend to reject unfair offers of water, even when severely thirsty. The researchers used an ultimatum game to test whether humans would accept an unequal offer of water, and found that they did so only if they subjectively felt a strong need for water.

SourceWellcome Trust·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 23, 2012

Primate of the opera: What soprano singing apes on helium reveal about the human voice

A study published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology found that singing gibbons use the same vocal techniques as professional soprano singers. The research reveals a physiological similarity between gibbon and human voices, suggesting that complex vocal abilities evolved in humans were not due to unique modifications.

SourceWiley·JournalAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology·DateAug 23, 2012

Past tropical climate change linked to ocean circulation, says Texas A&M team

Researchers have discovered that subsurface temperatures in the western tropical Atlantic rapidly warmed during cold periods in Earth's past. This finding suggests that when the global conveyor belt slowed down, warm subsurface waters flowed southward and rapidly warmed the deep tropics, altering climate patterns globally.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 23, 2012

March Madness brings September students

Researchers found universities receive a surge of 10% more SAT scores from prospective students following a stellar sports season. This phenomenon affects all demographic backgrounds, not just certain groups like males, black students, or those who played sports in high school.

SourceBrigham Young University·JournalJournal of Sports Economics·DateAug 23, 2012

No-till could help maintain crop yields despite climate change

Research at the US Department of Agriculture found that no-till farming can reduce yield losses caused by climate change. The study simulated different climate factors on three cropping systems, finding declines in corn and millet yields over time. No-till management helped maintain wheat yields for up to 2075.

Novel microscopy method offers sharper view of brain's neural network

A team of Italian researchers has developed a new microscopy technique called confocal light sheet microscopy (CLSM) that improves the resolution and contrast of images of the brain's neural pathways. CLSM enables scientists to obtain high-resolution views of tissue samples with a resolution of a few microns and faster acquisition time.

SourceOptica·JournalOptics Express·DateAug 23, 2012

Flat lens offers a perfect image

Researchers at Harvard University have created an ultrathin flat lens that focuses light without imparting distortions, approaching the physical limit set by diffraction laws. The device is scalable and simple to manufacture, making it a promising new technology for fiber-optic communications.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNano Letters·DateAug 23, 2012

Therapeutic avenues for Parkinson's investigated at UH

Scientists at UH Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling discovered LXRbeta, a nuclear receptor that promotes the survival of dopaminergic neurons, which are the main source of dopamine in the central nervous system. The presence of LXRbeta may offer protection against neurodegeneration of the midbrain.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 23, 2012

Cloud control could tame hurricanes, study shows

Scientists suggest cloud seeding could reduce hurricane power by a category by increasing sunlight reflection in clouds above hurricane development regions. The technique, Marine Cloud Brightening, could also lead to increased rainfall in some areas but not others.

SourceWiley·JournalAtmospheric Science Letters·DateAug 23, 2012

Most mutations come from dad

Researchers found that humans inherit more than three times as many mutations from their fathers as from their mothers. The study also suggests that the mutation rate in fathers doubles with age, while there is no association with mother's age. This new insight challenges theories of human evolution and sheds light on conditions such a...

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalNature Genetics·DateAug 23, 2012

Nanoparticles reboot blood flow in brain

Researchers at Rice University have discovered a nanoparticle that can restore balance to the brain's vascular system after an injury. The PEG-HCC nanoparticles immediately quench superoxide activity and allow the autoregulatory system to regain its balance, potentially treating mild brain trauma by preventing further damage.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Nano·DateAug 23, 2012

How to feed data-hungry mobile devices? Use more antennas

Researchers from Rice University unveiled a new multi-antenna technology dubbed Argos, which aims to dramatically increase network capacity by allowing cell towers to simultaneously beam signals to more than a dozen customers on the same frequency. The technology could result in a six-fold increase in network capacity and energy savings.

Learning 1 of cancer's tricks

Researchers at Caltech have identified a specific sugar, GlcNAc, that plays a key role in keeping cancerous tumors fed. By altering the addition of carbohydrates to proteins, tumor cells can survive under harsh conditions and thrive. This finding offers new potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

Cuckolded males sing louder

In a population of rock sparrows, researchers found that older and more successful males sang with higher pitches and slower tempos, while younger males sang with lower pitches and faster tempos. Cuckolded males, regardless of age, sang louder in an attempt to re-establish their pair bond with an unfaithful mate.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 23, 2012

New insights into salt transport in the kidney

The study discovered that the claudin-10 gene plays a crucial role in reabsorbing sodium chloride in the kidney. In its absence, mice exhibit elevated magnesium levels and excess calcium deposition in the kidneys, highlighting the importance of this gene in maintaining salt balance.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 23, 2012

Advantage flu virus

Researchers at Northwestern University have found that the influenza virus reduces immune system-regulating protein production in human cells by activating specific microRNAs. This discovery sheds light on a new mechanism of viral immune evasion and may lead to the development of therapeutics to preserve the immune response.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateAug 23, 2012

Sensor detects glucose in saliva and tears for diabetes testing

Researchers have developed a non-invasive biosensor that can detect minute concentrations of glucose in saliva, tears, and urine, with the potential to reduce the frequency of pinprick testing for diabetes. The sensor uses graphene nanosheets and platinum nanoparticles, enabling it to distinguish between glucose and other compounds.

SourcePurdue University·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateAug 23, 2012