Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive July 2013 - Page 2


Page 2 of 31

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

Improving dogs' ability to detect explosives

Scientists at the University of Lincoln aim to develop generic training approaches for explosive detection dogs, enabling them to recognize specific group odors and learn from experience. The study's goal is to create a proof-of-principle method for teaching dogs to detect explosives more efficiently.

AGU journal highlights -- July 30, 2013

Research highlights the connection between atmospheric rivers and severe precipitation in Western Europe. A study found that these rivers are also responsible for high precipitation events in mountainous areas, with significant impacts felt as far inland as Germany and Poland.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJul 30, 2013

Learning from a virus: Keeping genes under wraps

A study published in PNAS reveals that the human herpes virus uses histone proteins to package and store its genetic material, allowing it to remain dormant. Researchers identified a viral protein called IE1 as a potential target for new therapies to control the virus's activity.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 30, 2013

Fewer states holding alcohol retailers responsible for harms from illegal service

A new report finds that fewer states are holding alcohol retailers liable for harms caused by customers who were served illegally, leading to reduced protection against excessive drinking. The erosion of commercial host liability laws is seen as a public health failure contributing to high human and economic costs.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateJul 30, 2013

Hardness, in depth

Researchers have developed a new machine that measures a material's hardness with unprecedented accuracy. The Precision Nanoindentation Platform (PNP) can test properties beyond the reach of previous devices, including viscoelastic creep.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalReview of Scientific Instruments·DateJul 30, 2013

Preventing the 'Freshman 15' via the Web

A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that Project WebHealth, a web-based health promotion intervention, successfully motivated college students to improve their weight-related health behaviors. The level of motivation differed by gender, with women being generally more motivated than men.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalJournal of Nutrition Education and Behavior·DateJul 30, 2013