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Science News for July 31, 2013


Another scientific proof of the difference in social perception between men and women

A recent study found that oxytocin improves social interaction interpretation in both men and women, but with distinct effects on kinship vs. competition for each sex. Men's competitive relationships improved with oxytocin, while women's kinship identification enhanced, highlighting the hormone's impact on sex-specific social behaviors.

SourceUniversity of Haifa·JournalSocial Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·DateJul 31, 2013

Cleveland Clinic study finds lowest risk treatment for severe carotid and coronary disease

A retrospective study from Cleveland Clinic found that patients who underwent stenting of the carotid artery followed by open heart surgery had the best outcomes. The researchers compared three common treatment approaches and found that this combination had significantly lower risks of serious events after one year.

SourceCleveland Clinic·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateJul 31, 2013

ITN achieves scientific manuscript first -- provides open, interactive access to clinical trial data

The ITN has made its clinical trial data and analysis code publicly available through the TrialShare portal, allowing researchers to access raw study data, confirm published conclusions, and perform interactive analyses. This move aims to enhance scientific collaboration and speed up the sharing of research results.

SourceBenaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJul 31, 2013

Bird brains predate birds themselves

A new study published in Nature reveals that at least a few non-avian dinosaurs had brains as large or larger than those of Archaeopteryx, indicating they may have had the neurological hardwiring necessary for flight. This challenges the idea that Archaeopteryx was uniquely transitional between feathered dinosaurs and modern birds.

1 size doesn't fit all

A new study published in American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology reveals that ethnicity-based birth weight charts are more accurate than traditional population-based standards. These charts can help identify small but healthy babies, reducing parental anxiety and unnecessary healthcare costs.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology·DateJul 31, 2013

Therapy for severe vasculitis shows long-term effectiveness

A new study by the NIH-funded Immune Tolerance Network found that rituximab is as effective as standard therapy in inducing and maintaining disease remission in people with severe forms of vasculitis. The drug requires shorter treatment duration, reducing the risk of long-term side effects such as cancer, infertility, and infection.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJul 31, 2013

Key factors for wireless power transfer

A team of researchers discovered that resonance frequency matching, alignment of the magnetic field, and impedance matching are crucial for efficient wireless power transfer. This technology could enable dynamic charging of electric vehicles on highways, increasing their driving ranges indefinitely.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalAIP Advances·DateJul 31, 2013

Genetic link to gestational diabetes

Researchers identified two genes, HKDC1 and BACE2, associated with glucose and insulin levels in pregnant women but not in the general population. This study suggests that genetic risk profiles could one day identify individuals at elevated risk for developing gestational diabetes.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalDiabetes·DateJul 31, 2013

VCU physicists discover theoretical possibility of large, hollow magnetic cage molecules

VCU physicists have discovered the theoretical possibility of creating large, hollow magnetic cage molecules that could be used for targeted non-invasive drug delivery. The molecules, which are larger than the original Buckminster fullerene, carry giant magnetic moments and could serve as effective vehicles for delivering drugs to tumors.

SourceVirginia Commonwealth University·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateJul 31, 2013

The pathway to potato poisons

Scientists have mapped out the biochemical pathway responsible for manufacturing glycoalkaloids in plants, which are toxic substances found in potatoes and other edible plants. The research could facilitate breeding of toxin-free crops and development of new crop varieties.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalThe Plant Cell·DateJul 31, 2013

Digest this: Cure for cancer may live in our intestines

Researchers discovered a biological mechanism that preserves intestinal tracts in mice treated with lethal doses of chemotherapy, increasing survival rates by up to 75%. The findings could revolutionize cancer therapy by allowing humans to tolerate stronger doses of chemotherapy and radiation, potentially curing later-stage metastasize...

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalNature·DateJul 31, 2013

August 2013 Lithosphere concentrates on China, the Himalaya, India, and North America

Researchers studied China's Qinling and Tibetan Plateau orogens, finding evidence of late-stage foreland growth. In India, scientists proposed a cost-effective method for locating diamonds using geological, geochemical, and geochronological data. Additionally, a Middle Paleozoic continental arc was identified in southern China, providi...

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalLithosphere·DateJul 31, 2013

Brain maps to benefit epileptic surgery

A new brain mapping technique using magnetoencephalography (MEG) has been developed to help surgeons plan for surgical treatment in epilepsy. The study, published in Human Brain Mapping, produced detailed spatial maps of critical language functions to improve surgical outcomes.

SourceSimon Fraser University·JournalHuman Brain Mapping·DateJul 31, 2013

Oregon lab changes game for synthesizing new materials

Researchers at the University of Oregon have developed a game-changing approach to synthesize thousands of new compounds with ultra-low thermal conductivity. The team designed layered elemental precursors that self-assemble into metastable compounds with predictable nano-architectures and specific crystallographic orientations.

SourceUniversity of Oregon·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJul 31, 2013

Placebo effects of different therapies not identical

Research found that responses to placebos are influenced by diverse factors including route of administration, environmental cues, and learning. Participants' expectations correlated with pain thresholds and tolerance, suggesting a complex relationship between placebo effects and individual traits. Sham acupuncture's effect on genuine ...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 31, 2013

American Neurological Association and Wiley launch new open access journal

The American Neurological Association has launched a new open access journal, Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, to publish original research and scholarly reviews on nervous system diseases. The journal is supported by Annals of Neurology, the most prestigious peer-reviewed clinical neurology journal worldwide.

SourceWiley·JournalAnnals of Clinical and Translational Neurology·DateJul 31, 2013

BPA exposure disrupts human egg maturation

Researchers found that BPA exposure can dramatically inhibit egg maturation, leading to decreased maturity, increased degeneration, and spontaneous activation. This study adds to growing evidence about the impact of BPA on human health and may explain why some couples struggle with infertility.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalHuman Reproduction·DateJul 31, 2013

Binding together repelling atoms

Theoretical predictions show that controlled noise from an environment can bind repelling atoms together, creating a bound state with exotic properties. This novel mechanism could lead to improved cooling of atomic quantum gases.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 31, 2013

Microfluidic breakthrough in biotechnology

Researchers from the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences have developed a microfluidic system that can merge, transport and split microdroplets, allowing for the simultaneous cultivation of hundreds of different bacteria cultures. This breakthrough could speed up research on antibiotic resistance by reduci...

SourceInstitute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJul 31, 2013

Mount Sinai launches first-ever genetic testing program in the primary care setting

The Mount Sinai Hospital is launching the first-ever genetic testing program in primary care settings to identify genetic risk for kidney disease in patients with hypertension. This $3.7 million grant will provide genomic information to individualize treatment, testing, and monitoring, with a focus on African Americans who are four to ...

Guided growth of nanowires leads to self-integrated circuits

Scientists have successfully created self-integrating nanowires whose position, length and direction can be fully controlled. This breakthrough enables the production of electronic circuits with hundreds of transistors simultaneously, opening doors to various technological applications including LED devices, lasers, and solar cells.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 31, 2013

Studying the emotions which cause opinions to change

A physicist has developed a model to study the dynamics of opinions, combining information with emotions to understand how opinions form and change. The study reveals that minority groups can persist despite being surrounded by enemies and that many elections have close results.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateJul 31, 2013

Words and actions

Researchers at SISSA uncover inconsistencies in the dependence of the linguistic system on the motor one, with damage to specific brain regions affecting gesture imitation but not language processing. The study employs voxel-based lesion symptom mapping to establish a link between brain damage and performance decline.

HIV answers raise new ethical questions

Experts warn that widespread use of Truvada for HIV prevention may lead to unintended consequences, including increased transmission of other STIs. Daily dosing, safer sex counseling, and regular testing are crucial for successful PrEP implementation.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalJAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes·DateJul 31, 2013

Figuring out flow dynamics

Researchers at Caltech have developed a new way to analyze turbulent flow near walls, which can help reduce drag and fuel consumption in aircraft and ships. By breaking down complex equations into smaller blocks, they found that commonly observed features of wall turbulence can be explained by superposing just three response modes.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Fluid Mechanics·DateJul 31, 2013