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Science News for August 1, 2013


Both parents experience highs and lows in sexuality after childbirth

A study on postpartum sexuality found that partners of new mothers experience changes in sexual desire due to factors like fatigue and stress related to caring for a new baby. The research highlights the importance of considering the co-parent's perspective, as their sexual health can be related to each other regardless of the cause.

SourceWiley·JournalThe Journal of Sexual Medicine·DateAug 1, 2013

Catching cancer early by chasing it

A portable diagnostic device developed by Chinese researchers can travel to patients anywhere in the world, providing an opportunity for early cancer detection. The device uses microfluidics technology and is designed to be low-cost, easy-to-use, and power-independent.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalBiomicrofluidics·DateAug 1, 2013

Modeling of congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia using iPS cell technology

Researchers used iPS cells from a CAMT patient to study the disease, finding that thrombopoietin receptor signaling is crucial for megakaryocyte and erythrocyte production. Compensatory transduction of receptors normalized these processes, highlighting the potential for thrombopoietin-like drugs to treat anemia.

SourceCenter for iPS Cell Research and Application - Kyoto University·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateAug 1, 2013

OU-led research team awarded NASA EPSCoR grant

A University of Oklahoma-led research team has been awarded a $750,000 grant to develop a novel, self-sustaining energy storage system. The project aims to create nanobatteries that can be charged by photovoltaic systems, increasing capacity and reducing size for increased scientific payloads in satellites and rovers.

JCI early table of contents for Aug. 1, 2013

Researchers have identified prolactin as a potential treatment for inflammatory joint disease, reducing chondrocyte death and associated cartilage degradation. A protein called CTHRC1 has also been linked to bone health, suggesting it could be a target for osteoporosis treatment.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateAug 1, 2013

Moderate kidney disease costs medicare tens of billions of dollars each year

A study by the American Society of Nephrology found that moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD) costs Medicare tens of billions of dollars each year. The study estimated that Medicare spending attributable to CKD stages 2 through 4 is likely to exceed $48 billion per year, with costs ranging from $1700 to $12,700 per person per year.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateAug 1, 2013

Feeling left out can lead to risky financial decisions, research finds

A new study presented at the American Psychological Association's convention found that people who feel isolated are more likely to make risker financial decisions. The research, led by Rod Duclos, discovered that socially excluded individuals prefer longer odds for bigger lottery payoffs and take greater risks with their finances.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateAug 1, 2013

When prescribing antibiotics, doctors most often choose strongest types of drugs

A recent study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy found that more than 60% of antibiotic prescriptions in the US are for broad-spectrum drugs, which can be ineffective against viral infections. The overuse of these antibiotics contributes to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and side effects.

SourceUniversity of Utah Health·JournalJournal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy·DateAug 1, 2013

Prolactin reduces arthritis inflammation

Researchers at National University of Mexico found that prolactin can prevent chondrocyte death and associated cartilage degradation in rheumatoid arthritis models. Prolactin treatment reduced inflammation, bone erosion, joint swelling, and pain in rat models.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateAug 1, 2013

Re-learning how to see

A University of Maryland-led research team found a specific class of inhibitory neurons controlling the timing of synaptic plasticity, which regulates amblyopia. The discovery offers hope for treating amblyopia late in life by targeting the NARP protein.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalNeuron·DateAug 1, 2013

Ultrasound patch heals venous ulcers in human trial

A new ultrasound patch has been shown to significantly accelerate healing in patients with venous ulcers, a type of chronic wound that affects millions. The patch, developed by researchers at Drexel University, delivers low-frequency ultrasound directly to wounds and was found to reduce wound size in just four weeks.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Biomedical Imaging & Bioengineering·JournalThe Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·DateAug 1, 2013

Arctic sea-ice loss has widespread effects on wildlife

Sea-ice loss has widespread effects on Arctic wildlife, including disruptions to food chains, population mixing, and disease dynamics. The loss of albedo and increased warming accelerate melting, affecting critical habitats for species such as caribou, arctic foxes, and walrus.

SourcePenn State·JournalScience·DateAug 1, 2013

Light that moves and molds gels

The Pitt research team demonstrated that hydrogels can be reconfigured and controlled by light, undergoing self-sustained motion. This biomimetic behavior has significant implications in the medical arena, potentially leading to new devices and technologies.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateAug 1, 2013

Novel drug shuts down master protein key to lymphoma

Researchers have discovered how an experimental drug can completely eradicate human lymphoma in mice after just five doses by gumming up the powerful master regulatory transcription factor Bcl6. The study provides a promising new strategy to treat diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

SourceWeill Cornell Medicine·JournalCell Reports·DateAug 1, 2013

Cool heads likely won't prevail in a hotter, wetter world

Researchers found a significant correlation between climate conditions and human conflict, with even moderate changes in temperature and rainfall increasing the risk of personal violence and social unrest. A 1 standard-deviation shift in heat or rainfall boosts the risk of riot, civil war, or ethnic conflict by an average of 14%.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalScience·DateAug 1, 2013

Fly study finds 2 new drivers of RNA editing

Researchers found two new mechanisms governing RNA editing in a key neurodevelopmental gene in living fruit flies. The mechanisms involve newly discovered sequences and structures far away from the editing sites, which can be controlled like a tuning knob to increase or decrease editing.

SourceBrown University·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 1, 2013

Temperature alters population dynamics of common plant pests

Researchers studied temperature-driven changes in tea tortrix population dynamics, finding that desynchronization leads to more synchronous outbreaks. A mathematical model predicts population cycles under constant and seasonally driven temperature regimes, shedding light on how temperature influences insect populations.

SourcePenn State·JournalScience·DateAug 1, 2013

An app to lead the blind

A new smartphone app developed by Pakistani researchers can help sufferers of night blindness navigate safely in low-light conditions. The app uses GPS to track the user's location and estimate remaining daylight hours, allowing them to plan safe routes and avoid being caught out at night.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation·DateAug 1, 2013

The when and where of the Y: Research on Y chromosomes finds new clues about human ancestry

A new study using Y chromosome DNA sequencing sheds light on human ancestry by tracing the male lineage back to a common ancestor between 120,000 and 156,000 years ago. This timeframe agrees with previous findings on the female most recent common ancestor, providing significant insights into human history and migration patterns.

Existing cropland could feed 4 billion more

Research suggests that reallocating croplands away from fuels and animal feed can boost food availability for people by 70 percent without clearing more land. The study found that growing food exclusively for human consumption could provide enough calories to feed a few billion more people.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateAug 1, 2013

'Perfect' food for 'perfect' prawns

Australian researchers have developed a food additive that can be used to improve the growth rate, health and sustainability of farmed prawns. The Novacq feed additive has been shown to promote faster growth, reduce reliance on wild fishery resources and produce high-quality products.

A new tool for brain research

Researchers used fMRI and EEG to study brain function, mapping a previously unexplored aspect of brain activity. They found that post-stimulus signal in fMRI reflects changes in brain signalling, not just blood flow.

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 1, 2013

Antibiotic resistance among hospital-acquired infections is much greater than prior CDC estimates

The article reveals that antibiotic resistance among hospital-acquired infections is much greater than prior CDC estimates, with resistance rates ranging from 11% to over 50%. The FDA's promise to reboot antibiotic development rules has fallen short, and the authors conclude that more than an FDA 'reboot' is needed to combat this crisis.

SourceLA BioMed·JournalAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy·DateAug 1, 2013

Advance in regenerative medicine could make reprogrammed cells safer while improving their function

A new finding by Weill Cornell Medical College researchers could improve the safety and performance of reprogrammed cells. The study found that an enzyme called activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) helps in the process of changing adult human cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells). These iPS cells can be developed...

SourceWeill Cornell Medicine·JournalNature·DateAug 1, 2013

Genetics: More than merely a mutated gene

Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered that genetic mutations interact with an individual's genome background about 75% of the time, affecting disease outcomes. This finding has significant implications for understanding and treating diseases with a simple genetic basis, such as breast cancer.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateAug 1, 2013