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Science News for April 10, 2013


How Seattle Cancer Care Alliance implemented Washington's Death with Dignity Act

The study found that while the program was rarely used, those who participated reported gratitude for receiving a lethal prescription, regardless of use. The most common reasons for participation included loss of autonomy, inability to engage in enjoyable activities, and loss of dignity. SCCA's approach prioritizes palliative care and ...

SourceFred Hutchinson Cancer Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateApr 10, 2013

Botanists in the rainforest

Researchers found chimpanzees inspect trees with similar fruit characteristics, relying on botanical knowledge to predict fruit availability. This discovery provides insights into the evolution of categorization abilities and abstract thinking in humans.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalAnimal Cognition·DateApr 10, 2013

Extreme algae blooms: The new normal?

A record-breaking algae bloom in Lake Erie was triggered by a combination of long-term agricultural practices and extreme weather events. The researchers predict that future blooms will be even more severe unless agricultural policies are revised to reduce nutrient runoff.

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 10, 2013

Great white sharks

A new study published in PLOS ONE reveals unique social interactions among great white sharks while scavenging on dead whales in South Africa. The team observed 40 different sharks feeding on a carcass over a single day, suggesting that shark populations may rely on scavenging to supplement their regular feeding activities.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 10, 2013

Clinging to crevices, E. coli thrive

Researchers found that E. coli flagella can act as biological grappling hooks, reaching deep into nanoscale crevices and latching the bacteria in place. This ability to stick to any surface at all allows bacteria to survive on medical implants.

SourceHarvard University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 10, 2013

Interdisciplinary team demonstrates superconducting qualities of topological insulators

An interdisciplinary team has successfully depleted electrons from the bulk of topological insulators, demonstrating superconducting surface states. This breakthrough enables experimentation with TIs and paves the way for investigating the Majorana quasiparticle, a fermion that could serve as a quantum bit in quantum computing.

Penn research shows that young children have grammar and chimpanzees don't

A new study from the University of Pennsylvania found that children as young as 2 understand basic grammar rules when they first learn to speak, contradicting a long-held debate. The research also applied statistical analysis to data from the famous Project Nim experiment and found that Nim Chimpsky never grasped such rules.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 10, 2013

New therapy for fragile X chromosome syndrome discovered

Researchers have discovered a new therapy for fragile X chromosome syndrome by modulating the cerebral endocannabinoid system. The treatment has shown promise in normalizing cognitive alterations and sensitivity to pain in genetically modified mice, suggesting a potential new strategy for treating patients with FXS.

SourceElhuyar Fundazioa·JournalNature Medicine·DateApr 10, 2013

In an economic crash, public health improves

A study found that Cuba's economic crisis, which led to widespread weight loss, had a profound impact on the country's burden of diabetes. Obesity rates increased after the economy recovered, but the initial weight loss had a significant effect on cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality.

SourceLoyola Medicine·JournalThe BMJ·DateApr 10, 2013

First objective measure of pain discovered in brain scan patterns by CU-Boulder study

Scientists have developed a way to predict pain levels by analyzing brain scan patterns, with accuracy of 90-100%. This breakthrough may lead to the development of reliable methods for doctors to objectively quantify patient pain. The study also explores potential applications in measuring anxiety, depression, and other emotional states.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateApr 10, 2013

Training gives kids of AIDS patients a leg up

A simple training program can improve early-childhood development in children of AIDS patients by teaching caregivers how to support their children's social skills and cognitive abilities. The study found that these children made significant gains in language learning, memory, and overall cognitive skills after receiving the training.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalJournal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics·DateApr 10, 2013

IU study: 'Backbone' of mental illness stigma common in 16 countries studied

A global study found that a common backbone of prejudice exists in 16 countries, unfairly painting people with conditions like depression and schizophrenia as undesirable for close relationships and positions of authority. The study, led by Indiana University sociologists, analyzed data from 19,508 participants across diverse cultures ...

SourceIndiana University·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateApr 10, 2013

UNC researchers engineer 'protein switch' to dissect role of cancer's key players

Researchers at UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine have created a protein switch that can be used to interrogate the molecular mechanisms of human health and disease. By studying Src kinase, they revealed a previously unknown role in cell motility, consistent with its ties to tumor progression and metastasis.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 10, 2013

1 in 5 seniors on risky meds; more in US South

A recent analysis by Brown University researchers reveals that over 1 in 5 seniors with Medicare Advantage plans received potentially harmful high-risk medications in 2009. The Southeast region had the highest rates of prescription use for these risky medications, particularly among women and those living in poor areas.

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateApr 10, 2013

Single best practice to prevent DVT reduces hospital costs by more than $1.5 million annually

Researchers at Medstar Health and Georgetown University School of Medicine found that implementing a value-based analysis approach to preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in surgical patients resulted in significant cost savings, with an estimated overall system-wide savings opportunity of $4 million. The study identified limiting the...

SourceAmerican College of Surgeons·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateApr 10, 2013

Crime rate calculation method due for overhaul, Wayne State University researchers say

A study published in the Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice found that a common methodological practice, called capping, undercounts violent crime by 87% and household crime by 36%. The researchers suggest updating this technique to yield more accurate crime reporting.

SourceWayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research·JournalCanadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice/La Revue canadienne de criminologie et de justice pénale·DateApr 10, 2013