Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for April 23, 2013


People care about source of money, attach less value to 'tainted' wealth

A new UC Berkeley study suggests that morality plays a significant role in shaping our perception of money, with those who perceive money as 'tainted' viewing it as having less purchasing power. The research findings also shed light on why people avoid ill-gotten gains and the psychology behind socially responsible investing.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·DateApr 23, 2013

New fatigue model leads to more durable ships

Researchers at Aalto University have developed a new fatigue model that enables the creation of lighter structures, leading to more energy-efficient ships. The study's findings can be used to improve the design of various welded steel structures, predicting fatigue endurance more accurately and utilizing materials more efficiently.

SourceAalto University·JournalInternational Journal of Fatigue·DateApr 23, 2013

Alcohol industry attempts to influence alcohol policy

A study by UK experts found that the alcohol industry submitted policies in line with their interests, ignoring evidence-based approaches. The authors warn of conflicts between commercial and public interests, potentially compromising population health.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateApr 23, 2013

Achilles tendon injuries more likely in male 'Weekend Warriors' than others

A study of 406 patients found that male athletes, particularly those who engage in sports like basketball and tennis, are at a higher risk of Achilles tendon ruptures. The majority of these injuries occur during sporting activities, and delayed diagnosis can lead to poorer outcomes. Orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons emphasize the imp...

SourceSAGE·JournalFoot & Ankle International·DateApr 23, 2013

Air pollution and hardening of arteries

Long-term exposure to air pollution may accelerate atherosclerosis, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Fine particulate air pollution was found to be associated with faster thickening of the inner two layers of the common carotid artery.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateApr 23, 2013

What's old is new again

A UC Riverside engineer is exploring a nearly century-old manufacturing technique to strengthen tiny titanium-based medical devices, which could lead to significant improvements in their performance and reliability. The technique, known as gas nitriding, involves heating the device in a nitrogen atmosphere to increase its strength.

Ancient DNA reveals Europe's dynamic genetic history

Researchers reconstructed modern Europe's genetic history using ancient DNA from skeletons in central Germany, revealing dramatic migrations and a mysterious genetic turnover around 4000-5000 years ago. The study provides a high-resolution record of human DNA evolution over 4000 years, shedding light on the demographic history of Europe.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 23, 2013

The future of power?

Researchers at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology have successfully split water molecules at low temperatures, paving the way for sustainable hydrogen energy. The team's high-temperature thermochemical process can exponentially double hydrogen atoms, creating a sustainable amount of hydrogen regeneration.

Sea turtles inspire beach-walking robot

Researchers created a sea turtle-inspired robot to study flipper-based locomotion on complex surfaces. The 'Flipperbot' demonstrated improved movement using a free wrist, which reduced disturbance to the ground, similar to real-life observations of hatchling loggerhead sea turtles.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalBioinspiration & Biomimetics·DateApr 23, 2013

ALS trial shows novel therapy is safe

A new treatment for inherited ALS has passed an early clinical trial with no serious side effects, successfully introducing the drug into the central nervous system. The phase 1 trial suggests the approach may be effective against other mutated genes causing central nervous system disorders.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalThe Lancet Neurology·DateApr 23, 2013

Calculating phosphorus and calcium concentrations in meat and bone meal for pig diets

Researchers at the University of Illinois developed equations to calculate phosphorus and calcium concentrations in meat and bone meal. The study found that ash content is a reliable indicator of Ca and P concentrations, allowing producers to estimate mineral levels without harming pig growth.

The Asian monsoon is getting predictable

Researchers found a strong correlation between summer monsoon and climate patterns that preceded it, enabling forecasts to predict the monsoon a few months in advance. The study discovered that El Niño's influence on the Indian Ocean temperature and atmospheric anomalies in the western Pacific amplifies each other.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 23, 2013

AGU journal highlights -- 23 April 2013

Researchers study beach nourishment decisions and find that decentralized management can lead to resource inefficiencies. The stratigraphic record is controlled by physical processes such as sediment deposition rates and river channel migration, with gaps often left due to pauses in deposition or heightened erosion.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateApr 23, 2013

Rare galaxy found furiously burning fuel for stars

Astronomers discovered a rare galaxy that turns gas into stars with near 100% efficiency, outperforming even the most efficient engines. This highly tuned galaxy forms stars at a rate hundreds of times faster than our Milky Way, with the majority of its starlight emitted by a small region.

SourceMcGill University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateApr 23, 2013

New research examines connection between inflammatory stimulus and Parkinson's disease

A new study by the University of Texas Health Science Center suggests that inflammation plays a significant role in the development of Parkinson's disease. The researchers found that exposure to an experimental inflammatory agent caused changes in brain tissue similar to those associated with PD, highlighting the potential for therapeu...

Repairing articular cartilage defects with an injectable gel engineered with gene modified BMSCs

A novel thermo-sensitive injectable hydrogel engineered with gene modified bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) successfully repairs articular cartilage defects in rabbits. The study demonstrates the potential of tissue engineering combined with gene therapy for managing defective articular cartilage.

SourceSociety for Experimental Biology and Medicine·JournalExperimental Biology and Medicine·DateApr 23, 2013

Skin cancer linked to future risk of other cancers

A study published in PLOS Medicine found that white people with a history of non-melanoma skin cancer, such as basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma, are at increased risk of developing other forms of cancer in the future. The analysis revealed a 15% to 26% higher risk for men and women, respectively.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateApr 23, 2013

Ticking along

Researchers found that dog owners should be cautious of ticks throughout the year, especially from March to November. The study suggests that commercially available products may not be effective in preventing tick-borne diseases, which can infect over half of dogs in a single season.

SourceUniversity of Veterinary Medicine -- Vienna·JournalParasites & Vectors·DateApr 23, 2013

New technology that improves your brain

Brain training programs, such as MyBrainSolutions, improve measured scores in anxiety, stress, and depression. The BRAINnet Foundation uses standardized protocols to pool data across mental disorders, sites, and studies, aiming to understand mental illness as a brain disease.

SourceUniversity of South Florida·JournalJournal of Technology and Innovation·DateApr 23, 2013