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Science News for July 23, 2012


Strobe eyewear training improves visual memory

Researchers at Duke University discovered that strobe eyewear training enhances visual short-term memory by disrupting vision and forcing participants to adjust their processing. The effects of improved visual memory retention were observed even after removing the eyewear, lasting up to 24 hours.

Why does vivid memory 'feel so real?'

Researchers found that vivid memory and real perceptual experience share striking similarities at the neural level, but not in every detail. The study used fMRI to analyze brain activity while participants watched video clips and then recalled them, finding a 91% match in sensory and motor areas of the cerebral cortex.

SourceBaycrest Centre for Geriatric Care·JournalJournal of Cognitive Neuroscience·DateJul 23, 2012

Why do anti-hunger and anti-obesity initiatives always fall short?

Global food output has doubled in the past half-century, yet hunger and malnutrition continue to plague the world's poorest populations. The researchers propose an ambitious plan to remake the way food is grown, processed, distributed, sold, and consumed, focusing on innovations that take into account farmers' needs, nutrition-related ...

SourceMcGill University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 23, 2012

Study shows economic feasibility for capturing carbon dioxide directly from the air

A study by Georgia Institute of Technology researchers shows that extracting carbon dioxide directly from the air using newly-developed adsorbent materials is economically feasible. The technique could be used to supplement capture of CO2 from power plant flue gases, with estimated costs of $100 per ton. The method has the potential to...

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalChemSusChem·DateJul 23, 2012

High dietary antioxidant intake might cut pancreatic cancer risk

Research published in the journal Gut suggests that increasing dietary intake of antioxidant vitamins C, E, and selenium could cut the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. The study found a significant association between high antioxidant intake and reduced pancreatic cancer risk, with potential prevention of over one in 12 cases.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalGut·DateJul 23, 2012

Herding sheep really are selfish

Researchers use GPS-enabled backpacks to study flocking sheep and a herding dog, confirming the selfish herd theory by tracking individual animal movements. The findings show that under threat, sheep move towards the center of the flock while the rest moves away from the danger.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJul 23, 2012

ICAP study finds concerningly high HIV infection rates for young black gay and bisexual men in US

A new study reveals disturbingly high HIV infection rates among young black gay and bisexual men in the US, with a 2.8% annual rate of new infections nearly 50% higher than among white MSM. The study also found that poverty and untreated sexually transmitted infections were associated with HIV infection in this population.

America Invents Act is a game changer

The USPTO has implemented the America Invents Act, a significant reform of US patent law, allowing for public input and feedback throughout the rulemaking process. The act introduces a new framework for patents, with a focus on balance and collaboration between the agency and various stakeholders.

SourceUniversity of South Florida·JournalJournal of Technology and Innovation·DateJul 23, 2012

New recruits in the fight against disease

Scientists at Monash University have deciphered the atomic structure of PlyC, a powerful anti-bacterial lysin that kills bacteria causing infections from sore throats to pneumonia. PlyC's unique 'saucer' shape and eight docking sites make it 100 times more efficient than other lysins at killing certain bacteria.

SourceMonash University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 23, 2012

Neuroeconomics to study decision-making in anxious individuals

A neuroeconomic review investigates how anxiety disorders impact everyday decision-making processes. The study highlights the overlap between neural systems underlying anxiety and decision-making, suggesting that fear and anxiety can alter choice patterns. Anxious individuals exhibit specific biases in decision making, which may be med...

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateJul 23, 2012

Trial signals major milestone in hunt for new TB drugs

A novel approach to discover the first new tuberculosis (TB) combination drug regimen has cleared a major hurdle with a Phase II clinical trial finding it could kill more than 99 percent of patients' TB bacteria within two weeks. The results add to a growing body of evidence that this regimen could reduce treatment by more than a year ...

SourceBurness·JournalThe Lancet·DateJul 23, 2012

JCI early table of contents for July 23, 2012

Researchers found that miR-122 modulates fat and cholesterol metabolism and has a tumor suppressive function in hepatocytes. A mouse model with MiR-122 loss of function also promoted breast tumor growth by differentially regulating ERα and ERβ.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJul 23, 2012

Climate change and deforestation: When the past influences the present

A recent study by an international research group challenges the conventional wisdom that deforestation is solely caused by human activity. The research suggests that pre-human climatic changes may have led to the current open habitats of Daraina region in northern Madagascar, affecting the population of golden-crowned sifaka.

SourceInstituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 23, 2012

Polar bear evolution tracked climate change, new DNA study suggests

A new DNA study provides clues about the species' evolution, suggesting that climate change and genetic exchange with brown bears helped create the polar bear as we know it today. The research found evidence of fluctuating population sizes over the past million years, growing during cooling periods and shrinking in warmer times.

SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 23, 2012

Alcoholism and HIV infection have different effects on visuomotor procedural memory processes

This study found that chronic alcoholism and HIV infection distinctively impact the brain systems involved in procedural learning and visual information processing. Individuals with HIV require repeated practice to achieve maximum benefit, while those with alcoholism demonstrate a consolidation effect that enhances learning over time.

Judging DNA by its cover

A new Weizmann Institute-led study identifies a potential molecular mechanism behind the link between cancer and faulty stem cell differentiation. The researchers discovered that the tagging of DNA pieces with ubiquitin is crucial for proper stem cell differentiation, and disruptions in this process can lead to cancer.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalMolecular Cell·DateJul 23, 2012

MiR-122 micromanages liver function

A recent study found that miR-122 is involved in modulating fat and cholesterol metabolism in the liver. Additionally, it may have a tumor suppressive function in hepatocytes, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma. The molecule's role in liver homeostasis has also been highlighted.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJul 23, 2012

2 out of 3 very obese kids already have heart disease risk factors

Research published in Archives of Disease in Childhood found that two out of three severely obese children under the age of 12 have at least one cardiovascular risk factor. High blood pressure, high levels of low-density 'bad' cholesterol, and impaired fasting glucose were prevalent among this group.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalArchives of Disease in Childhood·DateJul 23, 2012

Study finds non-disclosure of HIV serostatus common among India female sex workers

A study conducted in India found that non-disclosure of HIV serostatus to sex partners is a significant issue among female sex workers and their clients, with rates ranging from 17-86%. The study suggests that improving basic HIV knowledge, reducing alcohol consumption, and increasing awareness about partner status can help increase di...

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalAIDS and Behavior·DateJul 23, 2012

New findings by GW researcher break tanning misconceptions: 'There is no such thing as a safe tan'

A GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences study published in Nature Communications reveals that traditional sun protection may not be effective against skin cancer. The research found that UVA radiation induces melanin formation, which is directly involved in melanoma formation, contradicting the notion of a 'safe tan'.

SourceGeorge Washington University·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 23, 2012