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Science News for February 28, 2012


The laws of attraction: Making magnetic yeast

Researchers at Harvard Medical School have successfully induced magnetization in yeast cells by manipulating their iron transport system. This breakthrough provides new insights into the mechanisms of magnetization and its potential applications, including bioprocessing, tissue engineering, and therapeutic cell tracking. The study's fi...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateFeb 28, 2012

Optogenetic tool elucidated

Biophysicists have elucidated the switching mechanism of channelrhodopsin, a protein crucial for optogenetics. The research sheds light on how water molecules penetrate the cell membrane, enabling the protein to conduct ions. This breakthrough paves the way for more precise neurobiological applications.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateFeb 28, 2012

First and only study on harmful effects of infants prenatally exposed to ecstasy

A new study published in Neurotoxicology and Teratology found that prenatal exposure to ecstasy can lead to developmental delays, poorer motor skills, and increased social problems in infants. The study compared infants exposed to ecstasy with those not exposed and found significant differences in their growth and cognitive development.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalNeurotoxicology and Teratology·DateFeb 28, 2012

Causes of death in older people in Latin America, India and China

Chronic diseases, particularly stroke, are the leading causes of death among older adults in Latin America, India, and China. Education has been shown to have a significant impact on mortality rates, suggesting that efforts to ensure universal access to education could lead to substantial health benefits for generations to come.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateFeb 28, 2012

Researchers find potential solution to melanoma's resistance to vemurafenib

A new study by researchers at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center has found that the XL888 inhibitor can prevent resistance to chemotherapy drug vemurafenib in melanoma patients, leading to induced apoptosis response and tumor regression. The study suggests a novel approach to managing drug resistance using broadly targeted strategies.

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·JournalClinical Cancer Research·DateFeb 28, 2012

New 'magnetic yeast' marks step toward harnessing Nature's magnetic capabilities

Scientists have developed a method to imbue yeast with magnetic properties, enabling potential applications in medical, industrial, and research settings. The technology could be used to target and isolate specific cells, guiding them toward certain manufacturing processes or interacting with non-living machinery.

T. Rex's killer smile revealed

A University of Alberta paleontologist has discovered that Tyrannosaurus rex had the greatest variation in tooth morphology or structure among all tyrannosaurids. The varying edges enabled strong teeth to cut through flesh and bone, while the placement and angle directed food into its mouth.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalCanadian Journal of Earth Sciences·DateFeb 28, 2012

Direct measurement of the formation length of photons

Researchers from Aarhus University and CERN's NA63 collaboration successfully measured the time it takes for an electron to form a photon. By guiding the electron through two flat gold foils, they created a measurable distance between them, which corresponds to the length of the photon formation process.

SourceAarhus University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 28, 2012

Gestational weight gain generally does not influence child cognitive development

A study from Nationwide Children's Hospital found that excessive or insufficient weight gain during pregnancy does not affect a child's cognitive development. The research controlled for various confounding factors, including genetic and environmental influences, to separate the effect of gestational weight gain on cognition.

SourceNationwide Children's Hospital·JournalInternational Journal of Epidemiology·DateFeb 28, 2012

Teenagers are more vulnerable to sport concussions

Research by Université de Montrêl neuropsychologist Dave Ellemberg shows that adolescents are more sensitive to the effects of a sport-related concussion than adults or children. The study found that a first concussion can result in six months to a year of neurophysiological side effects for adolescents, adults, and children alike.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalBrain Injury·DateFeb 28, 2012

Social responsibility of businesses questioned

The Icelandic banking system's brief expansion raised concerns about the balance between corporate social responsibility and responsible operations. Analysis by David Sigurthorsson suggests that CSR can be divided into positive and negative obligations, with the former often taking precedence.

SourceLinköping University·JournalJournal of Business Ethics·DateFeb 28, 2012

Improving the experience of dying

Researchers found that palliative care staff use multifaceted approaches to provide physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and existential care. These caregiving activities can improve the quality of death for both patients and their families.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateFeb 28, 2012

New discoveries on depression

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet discovered that D-serine improves memory in 'depressed' rats by increasing brain plasticity. This finding suggests a potential treatment approach for depression, targeting the support cells' functionality.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·DateFeb 28, 2012

Sea level rise to alter economics of California beaches

A study by Duke University researchers predicts that sea level rise will change the economic landscape of Southern California beaches, with smaller beaches facing significant losses while larger ones may benefit. The study suggests that nourishment projects could help offset these losses, but at great cost.

SourceDuke University·JournalClimatic Change·DateFeb 28, 2012

Cold air chills heart's oxygen supply

Research by Penn State found that breathing cold air during exercise causes uneven oxygen distribution throughout the heart, particularly in those with coronary artery disease. Healthy individuals can redistribute blood flow, but those with heart problems may not be able to compensate, making activities like shoveling snow dangerous.

US income distribution winners and losers

A recent study found that in the US, economic prosperity primarily benefits richer households, while those in lower and middle-income groups struggle to improve their financial situation. The study analyzed data from over 60,000 US households between 1996 and 2003, revealing a widening income gap.

SourceSAGE·JournalReview of Radical Political Economics·DateFeb 28, 2012

Developing sustainable power

The need for stable sources of power in rural areas of developing countries is pressing, with four-fifths of those without domestic electricity living in urban margins. Researchers suggest that renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, could be a viable option to address this issue.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalAfrican Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development·DateFeb 28, 2012

Iowa State, Ames Lab chemists aid study of mutated plants that may be better for biofuels

A research team including Iowa State University chemists has found that genetic mutations to cellulose in plants can improve the conversion of cellulosic biomass into biofuels. The team discovered that mutated plant cell walls produce less crystalline cellulose, making it easier to break down into fermentable sugars.

SourceIowa State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 28, 2012

New method to separate much-needed medical isotopes

The new method uses optical pumping and magnetic barriers to extract desired atoms from a stream of elements, allowing for the isolation of crucial isotopes like lithium-7. This approach promises to be a more efficient and safer means of obtaining these vital elements for medical applications.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateFeb 28, 2012

Selenium supplements could be harmful to people who already have enough selenium in their diet including a large proportion of US population

A new review suggests that taking selenium supplements can increase the risk of developing type-2 diabetes in people who already have enough selenium in their diet. The study found that a large proportion of the US population has adequate selenium levels, making supplementation potentially harmful.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateFeb 28, 2012

Schizophrenia patients' ability to monitor reality may be helped by computerized training

A study published in Neuron found that intensive computerized cognitive training exercises can improve complex cognitive functions and social cognition in people with schizophrenia. The training improved the ability to distinguish internal thoughts from reality, coinciding with increased activation in the medial prefrontal cortex.