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Science News for December 10, 2014


Analogues of a natural product are drug candidates against malaria

Scientists at IRB Barcelona have identified two derivatives of borrelidin that completely remove the parasite load from mice and confer immunological memory to fight future infections. These compounds act on the protein production machinery of the parasite, making them efficient in all phases of infection.

SourceInstitute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 10, 2014

A better biomonitor for children with asthma

A team of researchers at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center developed an Induced Sputum (IS) technique to assess the effect of pollution on urban asthmatic children. The study found that IS is a more physiologically sensitive biomonitoring method than environmental sampling stations, detecting hazardous particles like mercury in the lungs.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalInternational Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health·DateDec 10, 2014

Study finds eczema, short stature not associated overall

A study published in JAMA Dermatology analyzed data from nine population-based studies and found no overall association between eczema and short stature. However, a small group of children with severe eczema who experienced sleep disturbances showed potentially reversible growth impairment.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Dermatology·DateDec 10, 2014

Drug developed at Pitt proves effective against antibiotic-resistant 'superbugs'

A treatment pioneered at the University of Pittsburgh Center for Vaccine Research is far more effective than traditional antibiotics in inhibiting the growth of drug-resistant bacteria. The new drug, called engineered cationic antimicrobial peptides (eCAPs), inhibited growth in about 90% of test bacterial strains.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy·DateDec 10, 2014

Prenatal exposure to common household chemicals linked with substantial drop in child IQ

A recent study published in PLOS ONE found a significant link between prenatal exposure to di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) and di-isobutyl phthalate (DiBP) and substantial drops in child IQ scores. Children exposed during pregnancy to these chemicals had IQ scores on average six points lower than those exposed at lower levels.

Defects are perfect in laser-induced graphene

The study finds that laser-induced graphene (LIG) has a unique structure with five- and seven-atom rings, which can store charges and make it suitable for supercapacitors. Researchers developed a scalable one-step process to create LIG in detailed patterns.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 10, 2014

Limiting internet congestion a key factor in net neutrality debate

A study published in the RAND Journal of Economics found that price discrimination by ISPs can lead to increased web congestion, as consumers adjust their behavior to take advantage of faster services. The researchers argue that relaxing net neutrality rules would ultimately benefit ISPs at the expense of consumers.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley Haas School of Business·JournalThe RAND Journal of Economics·DateDec 10, 2014

Crowdfunding 101

A study by USCB researchers determined that building an audience and engaging it during crowdfunding is crucial for success. The most important networks were those that were scalable, such as Twitter and email, which helped bring people to the projects.

How to achieve health equity

The article highlights the persistent health gap between whites and blacks, despite improvements in care access. Effective strategies for closing this gap include reporting clinical performance data by race, offering tailored interventions, and creating risk-adjusted scores.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateDec 10, 2014

Oldest horned dinosaur species in North America found in Montana

Researchers have identified the first definite horned dinosaur species from the Early Cretaceous period in North America, known as Aquilops americanus. This discovery sheds light on the biogeography of neoceratopsian dinosaurs and suggests a late Early Cretaceous intercontinental migratory event between Asia and North America.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 10, 2014

Worms' mental GPS helps them find food

Scientists have developed a mathematical theory based on roundworm foraging that predicts how animals decide to switch from localized to very broad searching. The theory could explain animal behavior in a more unified way, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and extraterrestrial behavior.

As in a cloud

Physicists at Goethe University Frankfurt have used the COLTRIMS reaction microscope to demonstrate that the structure of the helium-3 molecule is a 'cloud' rather than a solid structure. The results resolve a long-standing dispute in theoretical physics and show that all possible configurations are equally probable.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 10, 2014

Can poor sleep lead to dementia?

A new study published in Neurology found that people with sleep apnea or reduced deep sleep are more likely to have brain abnormalities associated with dementia. The study also discovered that those who spent less time in slow wave sleep had loss of brain cells, a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.

SourceAmerican Academy of Neurology·JournalNeurology·DateDec 10, 2014

Patients given less blood during transfusions do well

A new Rutgers-led research study found that patients with heart disease who receive transfusions during surgeries do just as well with smaller amounts of blood. The study measured overall mortality and found no evidence of increased mortality from cardiovascular disease or severe infection due to the amount of blood given after surgery.

SourceRutgers University·JournalThe Lancet·DateDec 10, 2014

More holistic approach needed when studying the diets of our ancestors

Recent research on early hominid diets highlights the limitations of using modern technologies alone to understand their eating habits. A holistic approach is needed, considering factors such as habitat, anatomy, and cognitive abilities. This interdisciplinary method can provide a more accurate picture of our ancestors' diets.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalThe Quarterly Review of Biology·DateDec 10, 2014

Anyone who is good at German learns English better

Research by University of Zurich linguist Simone Pfenninger found that students with strong German language skills tend to excel in English, even if they start learning the latter at a later age. In contrast, early foreign language learning can sometimes hinder L1 development in the short term.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalInternational Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism·DateDec 10, 2014

Racial and ethnic disparities narrow for acute care

A study found that racial and ethnic disparities in acute care narrowed significantly as hospitals improved quality, with nine major disparities mostly disappearing by the end of 2010. Hospitals serving minorities made faster improvements and delivered more equal care to white and minority patients over time.

SourceBrown University·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateDec 10, 2014

New study measures methane emissions from natural gas production and offers insights into 2 large sources

Researchers found that a small group of pneumatic devices and wells with frequent liquid unloadings are responsible for the vast majority of methane emissions from natural gas production sites. The study confirms regional differences in methane emission levels, with highest emissions in the Gulf Coast and lowest in the Rocky Mountains.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateDec 10, 2014

New way to turn genes on

Researchers at MIT have successfully turned on any desired gene in living cells using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. This breakthrough enables scientists to study gene function and identify genes involved in diseases, such as melanoma. The new method has also been used to screen for genes that confer resistance to cancer drugs.

How long can Ebola live?

A new study by a Pitt researcher reveals that there is limited scientific data on how long the Ebola virus can survive on surfaces, in water, or in liquid droplets. This knowledge gap makes it challenging to develop effective disinfection practices to prevent the spread of the disease.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology Letters·DateDec 10, 2014

Lifestyle the key to gap in cardiac patient outcomes

Researchers at the University of Adelaide found that patients who managed their lifestyle factors were five times more likely to have long-term survival without any further heart arrhythmia. The intensive risk factor management program improved arrhythmia-free survival rates from 18% to 87% after five years.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateDec 10, 2014