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Science News for December 12, 2012


10 researchers receive EMBO Installation Grants

EMBO has awarded 10 life science researchers with Installation Grants to relocate and establish research groups in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland, Portugal, and Turkey. The grants aim to support talented young scientists and help reverse talent loss from these countries.

SourceEMBO·DateDec 12, 2012

Social synchronicity

Researchers found that body-movement synchronization increases after short cooperative training, indicating a measurable indicator of social interaction. This study may provide a powerful tool for identifying neural underpinnings of social interactions and impaired interactions like autism.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 12, 2012

Pre-transplant umbilical cord blood expansion speeds establishment of new blood supply in patients

Researchers have developed a method to expand umbilical cord blood cells on mesenchymal precursor cells, speeding up the establishment of a new blood supply in patients. This approach has shown faster engraftment of white blood cells and platelets, resulting in improved patient outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateDec 12, 2012

60th anniversary of NSF Grad Research Fellowship Program; UM fellow Staaterman's video recognized

The University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science graduate student won a video contest recognizing her pioneering work on bio-acoustics and larval fish navigation. The award highlights the importance of science communication, with Erica co-directing a marine science film festival.

Notre Dame research may have important implications for combating diabetes

University of Notre Dame biochemist Anthony S. Serianni's research provides new perspectives on sugar breakdown in the human body, particularly for diabetic patients. The study discovered an unexpected reaction pathway involving a novel rearrangement of the carbon backbone, undermining prevailing assumptions about sugar degradation.

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateDec 12, 2012

A promising clinical trial to reduce the severity of autistic disorders

A clinical trial has shown that a diuretic can reduce the severity of autistic disorders in three-quarters of children. The treatment, which involves administering bumetanide to children with autism or Asperger's syndrome, has been found to improve symptoms such as social interaction and communication.

Dead guts spill history of extinct microbes

Research published in PLOS ONE reveals that extinct human microbes from archeological sites closely resemble those found in present-day rural African communities. The study suggests that the modern cosmopolitan lifestyle resulted in a dramatic change to the human gut microbiome.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 12, 2012

Too big or just right? Optimal circle of friends depends on socioeconomic conditions

Research finds that people with a small social network and deep ties are more well-off when economic conditions are unstable, while those with a broad social network and weak ties do better in economically favorable contexts. Participants who had a narrow, deep friendship strategy reported greater well-being than those who had a broad,...

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateDec 12, 2012

Nature nurtures creativity

A study found that spending four days in nature, disconnected from electronic devices, improves creative problem-solving skills by 50%. The researchers used the Remote Associates Test to measure creativity and found significant benefits among participants.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 12, 2012

Protein strongest just before death

Michigan State University researchers have identified a unique protein that regulates cell growth and controls excessive cell proliferation. The study focuses on Retinoblastoma tumor suppressor proteins, which use controlled destruction to perform their jobs, highlighting new potential ways to treat cancer.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateDec 12, 2012

Home visiting program for first-time moms may be struggling to reduce serious injuries to children

Research from PolicyLab at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia shows that a home visiting program may not be effective in reducing early childhood injuries. Children served by the Nurse-Family Partnership had no fewer injuries than comparable families not enrolled in the program, with some even experiencing higher injury rates.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalMaternal and Child Health Journal·DateDec 12, 2012

Automated design for drug discovery

A team of researchers at the University of Dundee has developed an automated design system for new drugs, using advanced statistical analysis to mimic human chemists' creative process. The system successfully predicted profiles across a range of drug targets, with 75% confirmed correct in experimental testing.

SourceUniversity of Dundee·JournalNature·DateDec 12, 2012

Patients with family history of colorectal cancer may be at risk for aggressive form of the disease

Researchers found that patients with a family history of colorectal cancer are more likely to develop tumors with low-level methylation of LINE-1, a molecular sign associated with an aggressive form of the disease. Testing for this sign may help identify patients in need of aggressive treatment and inform familial cancer-risk assessments.

SourceDana-Farber Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateDec 12, 2012

Astronomers discover 'missing link' of black holes

Researchers used Earth-orbiting X-ray telescopes to observe a bingeing black hole that expels powerful beams of material, solving the debate over whether ULXs are black holes gorging themselves or more massive ones eating sedately. The discovery provides key insights into how jets are produced by a binging black hole.

SourceDurham University·JournalNature·DateDec 12, 2012

Cane toads can be stopped

A study published in the Journal of Applied Ecology found that removing around 100 artificial waterbodies can prevent toads from occupying 268,000 square kilometres of land. This could protect numerous species, including northern Quolls and goannas and snakes, badly affected by toad invasions.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Applied Ecology·DateDec 12, 2012

Physics on a plane: Crystals grown under 0 gravity

Researchers successfully grew helium crystals under zero gravity, overcoming laboratory limitations to examine the dynamics of these peculiar materials. The crystals formed rapidly, exhibiting an unprecedented Ostwald ripening process that can help reveal the underlying physics of crystal development.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateDec 12, 2012

Building better barley

Researchers at the University of Alberta have developed tools to help barley crops use less water while maintaining productivity. The study, published in Theoretical and Applied Genetics, utilizes carbon isotope compositions to improve selection efficiency for water-efficient varieties.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalTheoretical and Applied Genetics·DateDec 12, 2012