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Science News for August 5, 2013


An infallible quantum measurement

Physicists at the University of Innsbruck have developed a new method to verify entanglement between several objects, using device-independent witnesses. This approach allows for high-confidence statements about entanglement with minimal assumptions.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature Physics·DateAug 5, 2013

Celiac disease patients with ongoing intestine damage at lymphoma risk

Patients with celiac disease who have persistent intestine damage are at a higher risk of developing lymphoma compared to those whose intestines have healed, according to new research. The study found that the risk of lymphoma is significantly lower in patients with healed intestines, approaching that of the general population.

SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateAug 5, 2013

Seeing depth through a single lens

Researchers at Harvard University develop a method for creating 3D images from two stationary frames, enabling amateur photographers and microscopists to capture stereo-like effects. This technique uses light-field moment imaging to infer the angle of light at each pixel, allowing for the creation of brand-new images as if the camera h...

SourceHarvard University·JournalOptics Letters·DateAug 5, 2013

Escape from poverty helps explain diabetes epidemic in the American South

A study suggests that rapid economic growth between 1950 and 1980 may have contributed to the high prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in the American South. The 'thrifty phenotype' hypothesis proposes that children who grow up in poverty are unprepared biologically to manage the abundance of processed foods and sedentary lifestyle associate...

SourceOhio State University·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Biology·DateAug 5, 2013

Discovery could lead to end of sunburn pain

A new study published in PNAS reveals that the TRPV4 molecule plays a key role in sunburn pain, which is caused by UVB radiation. The researchers found that blocking this molecule could provide protection against painful effects of sunburn and possibly other causes of pain.

SourceDuke University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 5, 2013

Heterogeneous nanoblocks give polymers an edge

Researchers have discovered that using heterogeneous nanoblocks can alter the morphological structure of polymers at the nanoscale. This effect can lead to improved properties in materials like refractive surfaces and computer chips.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateAug 5, 2013

Abused children found to smoke more as teens and adults

A new study from the University of Washington finds that abused children are more likely to smoke excessively in adolescence and adulthood, with girls who were sexually abused being particularly at risk. The study suggests that early intervention and prevention of child abuse can lead to long-term public health benefits.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalJournal of Adolescent Health·DateAug 5, 2013

The molecule 'scanner'

Researchers developed a detector that can chemically identify single molecules using terahertz radiation, enabling 'molecular imaging' at scales similar to airport screenings. The technology, featured in Nano Letters, has the potential for fundamental studies and practical applications.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalNano Letters·DateAug 5, 2013

Feelings for fetus may vary smoking amount

A study published in the Maternal and Child Health Journal suggests that pregnant smokers with low scores on a scale rating emotional attachment to their fetuses may be inclined to smoke more. Women who feel less attached to their fetus tend to have higher levels of cotinine, an indicator of nicotine use.

SourceBrown University·JournalMaternal and Child Health Journal·DateAug 5, 2013

Seafood menus from Hawaii reflect long-term ocean changes

A study using Hawaiian restaurant menus from the mid-20th century found a significant decline in reef fish populations and a rise in large pelagic species. The analysis suggests that this shift paralleled drops in wild abundance, pointing to changes in public tastes and supply-side information as contributing factors.

SourceDuke University·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and the Environment·DateAug 5, 2013

Making a mini Mona Lisa

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology created a miniature version of the Mona Lisa using nanotechnology, with an image 30 microns in width. The team used ThermoChemical NanoLithography (TCNL) to create variations in molecular concentrations on the nanoscale.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalLangmuir·DateAug 5, 2013

Questions answered with the pupils of your eyes

Researchers created a simple system using just a laptop and camera to measure pupil size for communication. They found that healthy people's pupils increased in size when solving math problems, which was translated into accurate answers to yes/no questions.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateAug 5, 2013

New therapy strategy could help treat cancer that has spread from breast to brain

Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have successfully combined cellular therapy and gene therapy in a mouse-model system to develop a viable treatment strategy for breast cancer that has spread to the brain. The approach shows significant promise in reducing metastatic brain tumor size, providing new hope for pati...

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalClinical Cancer Research·DateAug 5, 2013

More intestinal cells than thought can absorb larger particles

Scientists discovered that enterocytes play a significant role in absorbing relatively large particles, challenging conventional wisdom and offering new avenues for increasing the absorption of medicines taken by mouth. The study found that between 10-50% of spheres were absorbed via endocytosis in cells called enterocytes.

SourceBrown University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 5, 2013

The doctor will email you now

A study by Weill Cornell Medicine found that patients and health organizations favor electronic communications, but physicians face barriers such as lack of compensation and increased workload. The study identified successful examples of medical groups using electronic communication to improve access to care and communication with pati...

SourceWeill Cornell Medicine·JournalHealth Affairs·DateAug 5, 2013

Necrostatin-1 counteracts aluminum's neurotoxic effects

New study links aluminum accumulation to neuronal cell death and identifies necrostatin-1 as a substance that counteracts aluminum's neurotoxic effects. In mice treated with aluminum, Nec-1 demonstrated strong protection against cell death and improved cognitive function.

SourceIOS Press·JournalResuscitation·DateAug 5, 2013

Odd Martian crater type made by impacts into ancient ice

Researchers at Brown University propose that double-layered ejecta craters on Mars were formed when impacts blasted through ancient glacial ice, creating a two-layered appearance. The model explains distinct features of the craters, including radial striations and their locations at middle or high latitudes.

SourceBrown University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateAug 5, 2013

Mindfulness meditation IBMT trims craving for tobacco

A new study found that mindfulness meditation, known as Integrative Body-Mind Training (IBMT), significantly reduced smoking in smokers by 60 percent. The training improved self-control pathways related to addiction, leading to increased activity in areas such as the anterior cingulate cortex and medial prefrontal cortex.

SourceUniversity of Oregon·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 5, 2013

Proteins hoist the anchor

Scientists successfully reproduce protein recycling process, tracing Rab's extraction from lipid membrane. The study reveals GDI protein's active role in recycling Rab proteins, shedding light on disease-relevant interactions.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 5, 2013

Scientists learn how soy foods protect against colon cancer

University of Illinois scientists have found that lifelong exposure to genistein, a bioactive component in soy foods, protects against colon cancer. The study suggests that a diet rich in soy genistein represses signals through epigenetic modifications, reducing the number of pre-cancerous lesions and abnormal cell growth.

Young vs. old: Who performs more consistently?

Researchers found that older adults showed less day-to-day variability in cognitive performance compared to younger adults. The study suggests that learned strategies, motivation levels, and daily routines contribute to the consistency of older adults' cognitive abilities. This finding has implications for workplace productivity and ag...

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateAug 5, 2013