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Science News for January 30, 2013


Toward a better cyanide antidote for terrorist attacks and other mass casualty events

Researchers have developed a potential antidote for cyanide poisoning that can be administered by intra-muscular injection, reducing the need for trained personnel and increasing efficiency in mass casualty events. The discovery of sulfanegen TEA offers a promising alternative to existing intravenous infusion-based treatments.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalJournal of Medicinal Chemistry·DateJan 30, 2013

Disappearing homing pigeon mystery solved

Researchers discovered that homing pigeons rely on 'loft-specific infrasonic map cues' to navigate, which are disrupted when release sites are shielded from these low-frequency signals. This finding resolves a long-standing puzzle and sheds new light on the birds' impressive navigation abilities.

SourceThe Company of Biologists·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateJan 30, 2013

Study: Husbands who do more traditionally female housework have less sex

A new study by the American Sociological Association found that married men who spend more time on traditionally female household tasks report having less sex. The research also suggests that couples with more egalitarian divisions of labor have higher sexual frequency, highlighting the importance of socialized gender roles in marriage.

SourceAmerican Sociological Association·JournalAmerican Sociological Review·DateJan 30, 2013

Peer pressure trumps 'thin' ideals in the media

A study published in Journal of Youth and Adolescence reveals that peer competition, rather than exposure to thin media ideals or social media use, is a significant predictor of body dissatisfaction and eating disorder symptoms among adolescent girls. Peer competition was found to predict lower life satisfaction as well.

SourceSpringer Science+Business Media·JournalJournal of Youth and Adolescence·DateJan 30, 2013

Snails signal a humid Mediterranean

A team of researchers from the University of York analyzed snail shells from Mediterranean caves to study past humidity levels. The findings show that the western Mediterranean was warmer and stickier when first farmers arrived in Italy and Spain thousands of years ago.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalQuaternary International·DateJan 30, 2013

Gut microbes at root of severe malnutrition in kids

A study of young twins in Malawi reveals that dysfunctional gut microbes contribute to severe acute childhood malnutrition. The researchers found that feeding malnourished children a high-calorie, nutrient-rich food temporarily improved their gut microbiomes, but the benefits were short-lived. The findings suggest that repairing gut mi...

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalScience·DateJan 30, 2013

Checking out open access

A Concordia librarian advocates for open source technology to make academic journals freely available, reducing subscription fees. The initiative aims to ensure institutional support for long-term sustainability and promotes the mission of libraries to support scholarly research.

SourceConcordia University·JournalThe Journal of Academic Librarianship·DateJan 30, 2013

Biofuels blend right in

A collaborative study by researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy has shown that an ionic liquid proven to be effective for pre-treating individual biofuel feedstocks is also effective at pre-treating multiple different feedstocks that have been mixed and densified into a blend. The study found that blending and densifying a wide...

Research study: Whistle away the need for diapers

Researchers at Sahlgrenska Academy found that potty training from birth can improve bladder control and reduce the risk of urinary tract infections in Vietnamese babies. This technique involves a special whistling sound to remind the baby when it's time to urinate, allowing for early elimination of diapers.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalJournal of Pediatric Urology·DateJan 30, 2013

BRI researchers identify biomarker and potential therapy target in multiple sclerosis

Researchers at Benaroya Research Institute found that IL-6 signaling pathway proteins may serve as novel biomarkers for MS disease activity and a potential therapeutic target. The study discovered that T cells in patients with active MS were more sensitive to IL-6, which could lead to new therapies targeting the IL-6 pathway.

SourceBenaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJan 30, 2013

Sorting out stroking sensations

Researchers at California Institute of Technology have identified a specific class of skin sensory neurons that react to massage-like stroking, paving the way for further study of pleasurable sensations. The discovery uses genetically modified mice and novel recording techniques to pinpoint individual neurons activated by touch.

Disease not a factor in Tassie Tiger extinction

A new population modelling approach contradicts the widespread belief that disease must have been a factor in the thylacine's extinction. The study found that European settlement, including hunting and habitat loss, was powerful enough to drive the species to extinction without invoking a mystery disease.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalJournal of Animal Ecology·DateJan 30, 2013

Study reveals significance of second trimester markers for Down's syndrome

Researchers analyzed 48 studies on second trimester markers and found that most single markers have only a small effect on modifying the odds for Down's syndrome. However, some markers such as dilated brain ventricles, increased neck thickness, and absent nose bone significantly increase the risk by three- to four-fold.

SourceWiley·JournalUltrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology·DateJan 30, 2013

Binge drinking increases risk of Type 2 diabetes by causing insulin resistance

A new study published in Science Translational Medicine has found a strong link between binge drinking and the development of insulin resistance, which can lead to Type 2 diabetes. The research suggests that alcohol disrupts insulin-receptor signaling, causing inflammation in the brain and increasing the risk of metabolic disorders.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJan 30, 2013

Antibiotics cut death rate for malnourished children

Researchers found a 44% drop in mortality with cefdinir and a 36% drop with amoxicillin when antibiotics were added to therapeutic food treatment. This study has changed how children are treated worldwide, providing a lifesaving impact on hundreds of thousands of children annually.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJan 30, 2013

Confirmed: How plant communities endure stress

A global meta-analysis supports the Stress Gradient Hypothesis, showing that plant interactions become more influential in positive ways when ecosystems face threats like drought. The study found that as stress increases, negative interactions weaken, while mutual support strengthens across various plant types and conditions.

SourceBrown University·JournalEcology Letters·DateJan 30, 2013

Hit by 2 hammers

Researchers identify new gene associated with Hirschprung Disease and demonstrate how deficiencies in two candidate genes synergize to halt gut nervous system formation. Understanding this genetic basis may lead to better diagnostics and treatment for the condition.

SourceStowers Institute for Medical Research·JournalHuman Molecular Genetics·DateJan 30, 2013

Tuberculosis may lurk in bone marrow stem cells of infected patients, Stanford researchers say

Scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine have discovered that tuberculosis bacteria can infiltrate and settle in mesenchymal stem cells in the bone marrow. This finding raises the possibility that other infectious agents may employ similar tactics, providing a new potential target for treatment. The research suggests that u...

SourceStanford Medicine·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJan 30, 2013

Rejuvenation of the Southern Appalachians

New research reveals that topographic relief in the southern Appalachians increased by over 150% since the Miocene era, suggesting a link to post-orogenic regional uplift. The findings contradict previous theories attributing landscape rejuvenation to climate change or erosion, instead supporting an epeirogenic uplift-driven explanation.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGSA Today·DateJan 30, 2013

Aging cells lose their grip on DNA rogues

Brown University researchers discovered that as cells age, their ability to defend against parasitic strands of genetic material called transposable elements deteriorates. This breakdown allows the newly freed transposons to take full advantage, potentially leading to a decline in cell function and health.

SourceBrown University·JournalAging Cell·DateJan 30, 2013

3D microchip created

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a new type of microchip that allows information to travel in three dimensions. The innovation uses spintronic technology and enables additional storage capacity on chips by spreading data across multiple layers.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalNature·DateJan 30, 2013

Pioneering study shows that local volunteers increase early breast cancer detection rates in a low-income rural area

A pioneering study published in The Lancet Oncology found that local volunteers increased early breast cancer detection rates in a low-income rural area. The study showed that 70% of women screened were diagnosed with benign lesions or successfully treated for breast cancer, significantly improving long-term survival chances.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·DateJan 30, 2013

How to be a social climber

Researchers discovered that all individuals are social climbers, as they seek to enhance their social importance through connections with central nodes. In hierarchical societies, this inclination leads to a clear identification of central nodes, resulting in an increasing number of social climbers.

SourceInternational School of Advanced Studies (SISSA)·JournalJournal of Statistical Physics·DateJan 30, 2013

Empathy and age

A study of over 75,000 adults found that late middle-aged adults, particularly women, report higher levels of emotional reactivity and perspective-taking. This inverted U-shaped pattern suggests a potential link between age-related cognitive changes and empathy.

Virtual superheroes more helpful in real world too

A study published in PLOS ONE found that playing virtual reality games with superpowers increases helpful behavior in the real world. Participants who played as superheroes were more likely to help others after the game compared to those who passedively completed tasks.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJan 30, 2013

UNC scientists unveil a superbug's secret to antibiotic resistance

Researchers at UNC Chapel Hill identified a bacterial enzyme that enables vancomycin resistance to spread among Staphylococcus aureus strains. They also discovered a potential solution by designing a synthetic molecule that blocks the transfer of resistance genes, offering hope for developing effective therapies.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 30, 2013

Mixed forest provides beneficial effects

A new study by researchers from the University of Gothenburg and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences found that mixed forests provide positive relationships to six different ecosystem services. The study suggests that promoting more varieties of trees may increase these services, including tree growth, carbon sequestration, and...

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 30, 2013