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Science News for June 26, 2013


Getting the carbon out of emissions

Researchers at MIT have developed an electrochemical system for capturing carbon dioxide from power plant emissions that can operate without a steam connection. This 'plug-and-play' solution could potentially capture 90% of CO2 from plant emissions while consuming only 25% of the plant's power output.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalEnergy & Environmental Science·DateJun 26, 2013

Social network size predicts social cognitive skills in primates

Research by Evan MacLean and colleagues found that lemur group sizes positively correlate with performance on tests of social cognition. In contrast, nonsocial cognitive skills were not affected by group size. The study suggests that the evolution of complex social intelligence may be linked to larger social networks.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJun 26, 2013

The evolution of throwing

Researchers found a suite of changes in human shoulders and arms allowed efficient hunting by throwing projectiles, paving the way for later adaptations like increased brain size and migration out of Africa. The study suggests that humans' ability to throw played a key role in becoming part-time carnivores.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature·DateJun 26, 2013

Race apparently a factor in sleep apnea, Wayne State University researcher finds

A study by Wayne State University researcher James A. Rowley found that African-American men are more likely to experience severe sleep apnea, especially in younger age groups. The study controlled for body mass index and other factors, revealing a racial disparity in sleep apnea severity.

SourceWayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research·JournalJournal of Clinical Sleep Medicine·DateJun 26, 2013

Nurse practitioners can boost quality of care for older patients with chronic conditions

A recent UCLA-led study highlights the crucial role nurse practitioners play in treating chronic geriatric conditions. Nurse practitioners were found to improve the satisfaction of quality indicators for patients with falls, urinary incontinence, dementia, and depression when co-managed with primary care physicians.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateJun 26, 2013

Sailors most often injure their knees -- on land

A recent study by the University of Gothenburg reveals that sailors are most commonly injured on land, primarily due to overstrain, especially during physical training. The study also found a higher incidence of injuries among younger sailors, with those on the national team experiencing more knee injuries.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalBritish Journal of Sports Medicine·DateJun 26, 2013

Quantum engines must break down

Researchers from University College London and the University of Gdansk found new laws governing microscopic systems, leading to fundamental limitations on extracting energy. Microscopic heat engines cannot be as efficient as their larger counterparts, with irreversibility playing a key role.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 26, 2013

People prefer 'carrots' to 'sticks' when it comes to healthcare incentives

A study found that policies with higher premiums for overweight individuals are perceived as stigmatizing, while 'carrot' plans with premium reductions for healthy-weight people are seen as more effective. Participants also evaluated plans on moral grounds, deciding that punishing someone for being overweight was wrong regardless of po...

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateJun 26, 2013

Influenza infection increases likelihood of bacterial pneumonia 100-fold, U-Michigan-led study finds

A University of Michigan-led study found that influenza infection significantly increases the likelihood of developing pneumococcal pneumonia, with a risk increase of up to 100-fold. The study suggests that vaccination against both flu and pneumococcal disease is crucial in reducing bacterial pneumonia incidence.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJun 26, 2013

Hold the medicinal lettuce

A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine reveals that reported plant genetic material entering human blood may be a false positive, contradicting previous research from Nanjing University. The team used advanced techniques to detect microRNAs in macaques' blood and found highly variable results.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalRNA Biology·DateJun 26, 2013

Illegal marijuana grows threaten fishers in the southern Sierra Nevada

A recent study by the USDA Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Research Station reveals that female fishers living near areas with high concentrations of illegal marijuana sites have higher exposure to rodenticides and lower survival rates. The study's findings underscore the urgent need for regulating pesticide use in these areas.

Whole genome or exome sequencing: An individual insight

Research reveals that focusing on coding regions through high-depth coverage whole genome sequencing can accurately identify genetic variations behind CMT, outperforming exome sequencing. Exome sequencing offers greater sensitivity and fewer false positives due to its higher coverage, providing a superior approach for precision medicine.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalGenome Medicine·DateJun 26, 2013

UCSB research points to a potential therapeutic approach to Alzheimer's disease

Researchers at UCSB have discovered a new potential target in the fight against Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases by exploring the possibility of inhibiting hyperphosphorylated tau. The study found that small molecular kinase inhibitors can efficiently reduce tau phosphorylation and exert a neuroprotective effect, restor...

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateJun 26, 2013

Social animals have more social smarts

A study at Duke University found that lemurs in larger social groups exhibit more 'social intelligence' and are more likely to steal food behind a human's back. The research supports the 'social intelligence hypothesis,' suggesting that living in large social networks drove the evolution of complex social cognition in primates.

SourceDuke University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJun 26, 2013

A stepping-stone for oxygen on Earth

Researchers found evidence of an early manganese-oxidizing photosystem in ancient South African marine sedimentary rocks, which predates the evolution of oxygenic cyanobacteria. This discovery supports the idea that manganese oxidation provided a stepping-stone for water-oxidizing photosynthesis.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 26, 2013

Virtual skin model reveals secrets of skin aging

A virtual skin model developed by researchers at the University of Sheffield and PÎG has revealed that skin has 'sleeping' stem cells which can be woken up to regenerate skin, explaining why our ability to do so reduces with age. The model has implications for combating aging effects and skin cancer.

Calcium and vitamin D help hormones help bones

A large analysis of the Women's Health Initiative trial found that combining hormone therapy with calcium and vitamin D supplements significantly reduces the risk of hip fractures. The study suggests that women taking postmenopausal hormone therapy should consider taking these supplements to boost bone health.

SourceThe Menopause Society·JournalMenopause·DateJun 26, 2013

MBL researchers find zinc's crucial pathway to the brain

A recent study by MBL researchers has identified ZIP12 as a critical transporter for zinc uptake in the brain, essential for embryonic development. Impaired zinc uptake leads to neuronal growth impairment, fatal to developing embryos. The discovery highlights the importance of periconceptional and prenatal nutrition for promoting healt...

SourceMarine Biological Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 26, 2013

Simple 2-drug combination proves effective in reducing risk of stroke

A Phase III clinical trial showed that a simple drug regimen of clopidogrel and aspirin lowered the risk of stroke by almost one-third compared to aspirin alone. The three-month period following stroke is critical for medical intervention, and the combination was found to be more effective in preventing subsequent strokes.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJun 26, 2013

Songbirds turn on and tune up

Researchers found that bullfinches memorize melody sequences in smaller subunits, anticipating the next note sequence when their human partner stops. The study suggests that songbirds have complex brain processes to learn and recall human melodies accurately.

SourceSpringer·JournalAnimal Cognition·DateJun 26, 2013

Babies can read each other's signals

Researchers found that infants as young as 5 months can match positive and negative emotional cues, including facial expressions and vocalizations. This groundbreaking study sheds light on early infant development and suggests babies are more attuned to emotions than previously thought.

SourceBrigham Young University·JournalInfancy·DateJun 26, 2013

Asian neighborhoods: Separate but equal

A recent study by Brown University found that Asian Americans' neighborhoods tend to be highly segregated and affluent, unlike other minority groups. Despite this, there is little incentive for Asians to assimilate into white neighborhoods due to their own socioeconomic advantages.

Ingested nanoparticle toxicity

Researchers reviewed existing studies on nanoparticle toxicity and found that ingestion is unlikely to cause health problems at typical exposure levels. However, the literature lacks evidence on long-term effects or subtle alterations in gut microbial populations.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Biomedical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology·DateJun 26, 2013

Yukon gold mine yields ancient horse fossil

A 700,000-year-old horse fossil found in the Yukon permafrost has provided new insight into equine evolution, revealing a genome that falls within a line of modern horses and Przewalski's Horses. The study also showed episodes of severe demographic fluctuations in horse populations linked to major climatic changes.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalNature·DateJun 26, 2013