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Science News for December 11, 2013


East Antarctica is sliding sideways

Researchers have recorded GPS measurements showing West Antarctic bedrock being pushed sideways by East Antarctica's harder mantle. The movement is significant for understanding current and future ice loss on the continent. The discovery highlights extreme differences in mantle properties between East and West Antarctica.

Cancer 'avalanche effect' refuted

A research group at Lund University has shown that the 'avalanche effect' theory of cancer development is not correct. Cancer cells can have over 100 chromosomes, but a single initial change does not lead to unstoppable further mutations.

SourceLund University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 11, 2013

Gender identity and single-sex schools

Research from Concordia University shows that girls in single-sex schools report feeling more pressure to act like typical girls, while those in mixed-sex schools are less likely to be victimized by their peers. This highlights the negative repercussions of not conforming to gender roles in all-girls schools.

SourceConcordia University·JournalSex Roles·DateDec 11, 2013

Is peer-review systemically misogynist?

A study analyzing 5.4 million peer-reviewed articles found that women are significantly under-represented in authorship and citations, with men dominating fields like engineering and computer science. Regional and disciplinary differences were also observed, highlighting the need to address gender disparities in science research.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalNature·DateDec 11, 2013

Diabetes link with dementia to be examined

Researchers at Lund University are studying the connection between type 2 diabetes and dementia, specifically focusing on insulin resistance and pericyte cells in the brain. They hope to discover new biomarkers that can signal early stages of dementia in diabetes patients, allowing for potential treatment targets.

CCS issues guidelines to improve early diagnosis & effective treatment of heart failure in children

The Canadian Cardiovascular Society has developed new guidelines to assist practitioners in recognizing and managing heart failure in children with undiagnosed heart disease. The guidelines highlight the importance of early diagnosis and effective treatment, which can improve heart function and increase survival rates.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalCanadian Journal of Cardiology·DateDec 11, 2013

Turning a blind eye

A recent study by USC Marshall faculty explores the influence of moral preferences on ethical behavior, finding that considering others' ethics can reduce dishonesty. The research suggests that people with formalist and utilitarian moral backgrounds respond differently to third-party beneficiaries' perspectives, with formalists being l...

SourceUSC Marshall School of Business·JournalOrganizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes·DateDec 11, 2013

AGU honors outstanding journalists

The American Geophysical Union (AGU) has honored four journalists for their outstanding coverage of Earth and space sciences. Geoffrey Haines-Stiles and Erna Akuginow have won the Robert C. Cowen Award for Sustained Achievement in Science Journalism, while freelance writer Tim Folger received the Walter Sullivan Award for Excellence in...

Maternal health program in India failing to deliver, study shows

A new study from Duke University finds that the Chiranjeevi Yojana program in Gujarat, India, has failed to deliver on its promise of reducing infant and maternal deaths. The program, which aimed to provide free childbirth care at private hospitals, saw no statistically significant change in birth outcomes or healthcare utilization.

SourceDuke University·JournalBulletin of the World Health Organization·DateDec 11, 2013

Orbital samples with sight-saving potential

Two studies examine the effects of spaceflight on mouse eyes, revealing oxidative stress as a key mechanism behind eye damage. Researchers found genes involved in response to oxidative stress and potential indicators of optic nerve damage, highlighting the need for countermeasures to protect astronauts' vision.

SourceNASA/Johnson Space Center·JournalGravitational and Space Research·DateDec 11, 2013

Hydrogen-powered invasion

Researchers discovered that Salmonella Typhimurium obtains energy for its attack by stealing hydrogen from the microbiota. This 'theft-based hydrogen economy' allows the pathogen to find an energy source in any new animal host.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalCell Host & Microbe·DateDec 11, 2013

The garden microbe with a sense of touch

A study by Dr James Stratford and Dr Simon Park found that Bacillus mycoides responds to subtle changes in its environment, producing whirlpool-shaped structures in response to curved surfaces. The microbe's ability to respond to force could signal potential useful scientific applications.

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 11, 2013

The mystery of lizard breath

A study by University of Utah researchers found that monitor lizards have a mostly one-way, looping air flow in their lungs, challenging previous notions about the function of this breathing pattern. The discovery raises questions about the evolutionary origins of this unique pattern, which may be as old as 270 million years.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalNature·DateDec 11, 2013

Is Israel's influence on US policy waning?

A recent study by Theodore Sasson suggests that Israel's influence on US policy is diminishing due to the fragmentation of the Jewish community. The once-unified voice among American Jews is now fractured, with individual preferences driving political advocacy and philanthropic support.

Magpie parents know a baby cuckoo when they see one

Research by Manuel Soler and team found that magpie foster parents are more likely to feed cuckoo fledglings in nests with only cuckoos, compared to those with magpie nestlings. This ability allows magpies to discriminate between host and parasite chicks.

SourceSpringer·JournalBehavioral Ecology and Sociobiology·DateDec 11, 2013

Musical myth

A study by Harvard researchers found no effect of music training on the cognitive abilities of young children. Despite popular belief, studying music does not enhance intelligence or improve academic performance. However, the study did find some small differences in spatial task performance between music and visual arts groups.

SourceHarvard University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 11, 2013

Staying ahead of Huntington's disease

Researchers have discovered that naturally occurring gatekeeper sequences on either side of a key protein mutation in Huntington's disease can prevent the formation of toxic structures. This breakthrough offers new hope for understanding and treating the devastating neurodegenerative disorder.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 11, 2013

Leaner Fourier transforms

MIT researchers have developed an algorithm that can perform Fourier transforms using close to the theoretical minimum number of samples. This could significantly reduce the time it takes for medical devices like MRI machines to scan patients, or allow astronomers to take more detailed images of the universe.

HIV causes structural heart disease

Research presented at EuroEcho-Imaging 2013 found that HIV patients with a positive blood viral load have a significantly higher incidence of structural heart disease. The study suggests that HIV itself might be an independent causal agent, and having a detectable blood viral load nearly doubles the prevalence of heart disease.

Precise docking sites for cells

A new method allows researchers to design and create three-dimensional structures with precise cell docking sites, enabling the study of individual cells in a close-to-reality environment. The technique uses direct laser writing and photoactive molecules to control the adhesion points for cells.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateDec 11, 2013

Liquid to gel to bone

Researchers have developed a hydrogel scaffold that solidifies into a gel at body temperature, providing a platform for functional and aesthetic tissue regeneration. The material is intended as an alternative to prefabricated implantable scaffolds and can be injected to the point of need.

SourceRice University·JournalBiomacromolecules·DateDec 11, 2013

Rare gene variants double risk for Alzheimer's disease

Researchers have identified two rare gene variants in the phospholipase-D 3 gene (PLD3) that double an individual's risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease. The study found that these variants were present in affected family members but not in healthy elderly relatives, suggesting a significant role in disease development.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNature·DateDec 11, 2013

In search of a treatment for a rare bone cancer

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that erlotinib, a drug approved to treat lung cancer, substantially shrunk chordoma tumors in mice. The study offers new hope for chordoma patients who have exhausted traditional treatments and have limited financial incentives for pharmaceutical companies to develop new drugs.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 11, 2013

Eating burgers from restaurants associated with higher obesity risk in in African-American women

A recent study found that eating burgers from restaurants at least twice a week was associated with a 26% increased risk of obesity in young African American women. Higher sugar-sweetened soft drink consumption also significantly contributed to obesity risk, with a 10% increase seen in those who drank two or more per day.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalEthnicity & Disease·DateDec 11, 2013

Each food fish can cause specific allergies

Studies by Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research and University of Leipzig reveal species-specific allergens in Nile perch and shellfish, potentially allowing diagnosis and treatment tailored to individual allergies. Researchers identify parvalbumin as a common allergen, but also discover new proteins with low allergenic potential.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ·JournalJournal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology·DateDec 11, 2013

Targeted antibody, immune checkpoint blocker rein in follicular lymphoma

A phase II clinical trial at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center showed that a combination of rituximab and pidilizumab sparked complete responses in 19 out of 29 patients with relapsed follicular lymphoma, with a response rate of 66%. The treatment had a mild side effect profile, with no grade 3 or 4 adverse events.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·DateDec 11, 2013

Hemophilia and long-term HIV infection -- is there a protective link?

Researchers found that people with hemophilia infected with HIV for decades have increased levels of immune cells targeting HIV. This cellular response, combined with antiretroviral therapy, enables patients to long-term survive despite HIV activity. The study provides new insights into the reasons behind clinical stability in these pa...

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalBioResearch Open Access·DateDec 11, 2013

Keeping growth in check

Researchers found that loss of RPL5 or RPL11 prevents cell cycle arrest but impairs proliferation due to reduced ribosome content and translation capacity. This discovery highlights a new mechanism for controlling cell growth, relying on the essential role of these ribosomal proteins in biogenesis.

SourceIDIBELL-Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute·JournalMolecular and Cellular Biology·DateDec 11, 2013

6 Installation Grants awarded

Six life science researchers from the UK, France, and US will receive EMBO Installation Grants to establish their research groups in the Czech Republic, Poland, Portugal, and Turkey. The grants aim to strengthen science in selected member states and facilitate collaboration with European centers of research and education.

SourceEMBO·DateDec 11, 2013

Bacterium infecting cystic fibrosis patients genetically evolves to live in lungs and evade antibiotic treatments

Scientists from the University of Ottawa and University of Calgary have shown that the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa has genetically evolved to survive in CF-infected lungs and evade antibiotic treatments. The study provides new insights into the evolution of the pathogen, which is a major driver of cystic fibrosis mortality.

SourceUniversity of Calgary·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 11, 2013