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Science News for August 11, 2014


Bioengineers create functional 3-D brain-like tissue

Researchers have successfully created functional 3D brain-like tissue that exhibits grey-white matter compartmentalization and can survive in the lab for over two months. The tissue displays physical properties similar to rodent brain tissue, enabling scientists to study traumatic brain injury in real-time.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Biomedical Imaging & Bioengineering·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 11, 2014

Nanocubes get in a twist

Weizmann Institute scientists have created twisted, rope-like structures from cube-shaped nanoparticles, demonstrating the power of self-assembly in nanomaterials. The findings reveal how competing forces like magnetism and van der Waals forces can align particles into complex shapes.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalScience·DateAug 11, 2014

Tackling liver injury

A novel complement inhibitor has been found to reduce liver cell death and stimulate post-surgery liver regrowth in mice. The treatment increased survival rates from 0% to 70% even after removing up to 90% of the liver. This breakthrough could represent a new treatment strategy for various liver injuries in humans.

SourceRockefeller University Press·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateAug 11, 2014

Neutrino detectors could help curb nuclear weapons activity

A team of scientists from Virginia Tech has proposed using neutrino detectors to monitor plutonium production in Iran's Arak reactor. The technology can detect antineutrinos produced by fission of uranium-235 and plutonium-239, providing high-level monitoring not currently offered by any other technique.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateAug 11, 2014

Breech babies have higher risk of death from vaginal delivery compared to C-section

A new Dutch study finds that elective C-sections significantly reduce infant mortality in breech presentations, with a 10-fold increase in fetal mortality for vaginal deliveries. Researchers analyzed 58,320 term breech births and found that elective C-section rates increased from 24% to 60%, resulting in a decrease of infant mortality.

SourceWiley·JournalActa Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica·DateAug 11, 2014

Synthetic molecule makes cancer self-destruct

Researchers have created a synthetic ion transporter that can cause cancer cells to self-destruct by disrupting the delicate balance of ions within their cell membranes. The molecule, which was discovered after two decades of research, confirms a hypothesis that could lead to new anticancer drugs and benefit patients with cystic fibrosis.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalNature Chemistry·DateAug 11, 2014

Not only in DNA's hands

Scientists have identified key DNA sequences and regulatory proteins controlling blood stem cell fate, revealing a more dynamic process than previously thought. The discovery has implications for developing diagnostic tools, personalized medicine, and regenerative therapies.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalScience·DateAug 11, 2014

Taking astronomy to the next level

The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) will image the entire visible sky twice per week, providing a vast amount of information on short-lived transient events, dark matter, and dark energy. The project is a partnership among NSF, DOE, and private contributors, with operational support from researchers worldwide.

Sugary bugs subvert antibodies

Researchers discovered that a specific type of IgG2 antibody protects Pseudomonas aeruginosa by binding to extra-long sugars on the bacterial surface. This protection can lead to reduced antibacterial capacity and worsened disease outcomes in immunized individuals.

SourceRockefeller University Press·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateAug 11, 2014

Fertile discovery

Researchers discovered that synthetic PAWP can initiate fertilization, promising a new method for diagnosing and treating male factor infertility. The protein's potential as a molecular marker for diagnosis and improvement of fertility treatments is being explored.

SourceQueen's University·JournalThe FASEB Journal·DateAug 11, 2014

Reconstructions show how some of the earliest animals lived -- and died

Researchers at the University of Cambridge created detailed reconstructions of ancient organisms called rangeomorphs, which were among the earliest large animals on Earth. The creatures thrived in ocean environments during the Ediacaran period but went extinct due to changing conditions and competition from emerging animal groups.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 11, 2014

Aberrant mTOR signaling impairs whole body physiology

Research at the University of Basel reveals that aberrant mTOR signaling in the liver affects not only hepatic metabolism but also entire body physiology. The study found that activation of mTORC1 in the liver reduces locomotor activity, body temperature, and lipid metabolism.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 11, 2014

Bioengineers make functional 3-D brain-like tissue model

The Tufts team created a modular design that replicated fundamental features relevant to the brain's tissue-level physiological functions. The model exhibits biochemical and electrophysiological responses, offering new options for studying brain function, disease, and trauma, and treatment.

SourceTufts University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 11, 2014

Keeping viruses at bay

An international team of researchers from the University of Bonn Hospital and the London Research Institute have now discovered that our immunosensory system attacks viruses on a molecular level. This means a healthy organism can keep rotaviruses, a common cause of diarrheal epidemics, at bay.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature·DateAug 11, 2014

Elusive viral 'machine' architecture finally rendered

Scientists at Brown University have finally rendered the elusive viral 'machine' architecture of the lambda virus, mapping protein-DNA interactions that enable its genetic recombination mechanisms. The team's groundbreaking work provides a detailed understanding of how the virus integrates and extracts DNA from host cells.

SourceBrown University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 11, 2014

Native bacteria block Wolbachia from being passed to mosquito progeny

Researchers discovered that a type of bacteria called Asaia blocks invasion of Wolbachia into mosquitoes' germlines, stopping the insects from transmitting Wolbachia to their offspring. This finding provides a potential answer to why some insect species are infected with Wolbachia while others are not.

SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 11, 2014

Springer launches ChemTexts

ChemTexts offers contemporary knowledge at a high didactic level for students and lecturers, with peer-reviewed texts and supplementary materials like videos and animated presentations.

Study: 1 out of 5 adult orthopaedic trauma patients sought additional providers for narcotic prescriptions

A study of 151 adult orthopaedic trauma patients found that one in five obtained narcotic prescriptions from multiple providers, leading to increased drug use and longer prescription durations. Patients who 'doctor shopped' used narcotics four times longer than those with single provider care.

SourceAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons·JournalJournal of Bone and Joint Surgery·DateAug 11, 2014