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Science News for October 3, 2013


Updated systemic sclerosis criteria improve disease classification

The 2013 classification criteria for systemic sclerosis are more sensitive than the 1980 measures, enabling earlier identification and treatment of this autoimmune disease. The new criteria improve the classification of systemic sclerosis by clustering items and simplifying the weighting of different criteria.

SourceWiley·JournalArthritis & Rheumatism·DateOct 3, 2013

Molecular imaging predicts risk for abdominal aortic aneurysms

Researchers identify markers that can predict rupture in abdominal aortic aneurysms, including dense white blood cells and C-reactive protein levels. The study suggests that PET/CT scans with positive uptake could provide diagnostic support for surgery, while negative uptake may indicate safe avoidance of unnecessary procedures.

SourceSociety of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·JournalJournal of Nuclear Medicine·DateOct 3, 2013

Naked jets of water make a better pollutant detector

Researchers developed a pollutant detector using a narrow stream of unconfined water, which acts as a waveguide to channel fluorescent light signals. The device was highly sensitive, detecting pollutant levels even lower than EPA standards and distinguishing between harmless and hazardous bacteria.

SourceOptica·JournalOptics Express·DateOct 3, 2013

Brain stimulation affects compliance with social norms

A new study found that brain stimulation can directly influence compliance with social norms, particularly in the right lateral prefrontal cortex. Participants who received increased neural activity followed fairness norms more strongly under threat of sanctions, but showed decreased voluntary norm compliance without punishments.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalScience·DateOct 3, 2013

Why do humans pig out?

A study published by the University of Copenhagen has found that certain genetic variants can make overeating a normal behavior in pigs, and may also be linked to human obesity. The research used genomic chip technology to map the DNA of nearly 1,200 pigs and discovered key genes involved in human obesity.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 3, 2013

3-D printing: The greener choice

A study by Michigan Technological University finds that making products on a 3D printer uses less energy than producing them in factories and shipping them. The analysis also shows that using renewable resources like PLA plastic can further reduce environmental impact.

SourceMichigan Technological University·JournalACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering·DateOct 3, 2013

A question of style

A German-Swiss research team has developed a device that sorts conformers of the same compound based on their shape, allowing for direct measurement of reaction rates. The device exploits the difference in dipole moment between conformers and uses it to separate and react them with calcium ions.

The order of words

Research by neuroscientists at SISSA found that adults' preference for their native language's word order affects language learnability. Infants as young as 8-month-old prefer artificial languages mirroring their native structure, while adults tend to stick to their native scheme.

SourceInternational School of Advanced Studies (SISSA)·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateOct 3, 2013

Why blame feels hard to take

Research reveals that people experience a lower sense of agency for actions associated with negative outcomes, making blame harder to accept. The discovery sheds light on notions about personal responsibility and emotional experiences., People tend to take credit for good outcomes but struggle with accepting responsibility for bad ones.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateOct 3, 2013

How Instagram can ruin your dinner

A new study from Brigham Young University finds that overexposure to food imagery on Instagram and other platforms increases satiation, leading to a decrease in enjoyment with repeated consumption. This phenomenon, known as sensory boredom, can result in people becoming tired of certain tastes without even eating the food.

SourceBrigham Young University·JournalJournal of Consumer Psychology·DateOct 3, 2013

Silencing sudden death

A new study by Harvard Medical School researchers has successfully treated a genetic disorder in mice that causes cardiac muscle thickening, weakening the heart. By reducing production of a mutant protein, the treatment prevented HCM manifestations for about six months, offering significant promise for potential human treatment.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalScience·DateOct 3, 2013

Chemistry with sorted molecules

Scientists successfully sort individual conformers of a molecule using an electric field, showing that their spatial structure affects their chemical reactivity. The new method provides insight into fundamental reaction mechanisms with potential applications in chemical catalysis and molecule synthesis.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalScience·DateOct 3, 2013

Great potential for faster diagnoses with new method

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have developed a new method that combines advanced tools in physics and biology to improve diagnostic accuracy. By using nanowires to hold proteins, they can measure multiple biomarkers simultaneously, increasing signal quality and making diagnosis faster, cheaper, and more precise.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen·JournalNanoscale·DateOct 3, 2013

Louisiana Tech University physicists contribute to new findings of international research team

Physicists from Louisiana Tech University contribute to an international team that reports first results for the proton's weak charge based on precise new data from Jefferson Laboratory. The Q-weak experiment measured the weak interaction's unique property of parity violation, revealing a tiny asymmetry in electron scattering rates.

SourceLouisiana Tech University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateOct 3, 2013

Genetic study of river herring populations identifies conservation priorities

A genetic and demographic analysis of river herring populations along the U.S. east coast has identified distinct genetic stocks, providing crucial guidance for efforts to manage their declining populations. The most severe declines have occurred in the Southern New England stocks and the Mid-Atlantic stocks, highlighting the need for ...

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalEvolutionary Applications·DateOct 3, 2013

Innovative approach could ultimately end deadly disease of sleeping sickness

A mathematical modeling study suggests that a new approach could reduce or eliminate the deadly disease African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, by creating a genetically modified version of the Sodalis bacteria to kill the parasite. The approach, which uses Wolbachia bacteria to drive the GMO version into fly populati...

SourceOregon State University·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateOct 3, 2013