Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for December 16, 2014


A lot or a little

Researchers found that wolves can discriminate between different food quantities, but dogs struggled with this task, suggesting a loss of numerical competence through domestication. The study's findings have implications for our understanding of canine cognition and the effects of domestication on animal behavior.

SourceUniversity of Veterinary Medicine -- Vienna·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateDec 16, 2014

Home- vs. mobile clinic-based HIV testing and counseling in rural Africa

A new study published in PLOS Medicine found that home-based HIV testing and counseling services can achieve higher participation rates among rural Africans. The researchers compared two community approaches: home-based and mobile clinic-based services. They found that the home-based approach reached more first-time testers, particular...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateDec 16, 2014

Top blood transfusion-related complication more common than previously reported

Researchers found that postoperative TRALI is significantly underreported but occurs in 1.4 percent of surgical patients, while TACO remains a risk at 4 percent, particularly in those with increased volume of blood transfused and advanced age. The studies provide new insights into the incidence of these life-threatening complications.

SourceAmerican Society of Anesthesiologists·JournalAnesthesiology·DateDec 16, 2014

Discovery aims to fight destructive bee disease

Researchers at the University of Guelph have identified a toxin released by the pathogen Paenibacillus larvae that causes American foulbrood disease. The study found a lead-based inhibitor against this toxin, which could lead to natural and effective approaches for fighting bee brood diseases.

SourceUniversity of Guelph·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateDec 16, 2014

Thumbs-up for mind-controlled robotic arm

A paralysed woman, Jan Scheuermann, has controlled a robotic arm using complex hand movements, achieving 10-dimensional control. This breakthrough enables her to interact with objects in different ways, simulating human-like hand use.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalJournal of Neural Engineering·DateDec 16, 2014

Cost of cloud brightening for cooler planet revealed

A new study has found that the 'Rayleigh Jet' technique can increase cloud reflectance by 5% with minimal energy consumption, using 30 megawatts of power, about equivalent to two large ships. This method is a reversible geoengineering approach proposed to mitigate rising global temperatures.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (A )·DateDec 16, 2014

Microwave imaging of the breast

Researchers have developed a microwave imaging system that can produce 3D images of the breast, including the location of cancerous tissue. The system uses dielectric properties to differentiate between normal and cancerous tissue, offering better specificity than current methods.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalReview of Scientific Instruments·DateDec 16, 2014

Shed post-Christmas pounds just by breathing

Researchers calculate that lungs excrete 8.4kg of CO2 when 10kg of fat is fully oxidized, shedding unwanted pounds. By breathing, individuals can lose up to 200 grams of carbon daily, with exercise further increasing weight loss through increased metabolic rate.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·DateDec 16, 2014

DNA sheds light on why largest lemurs disappeared

A DNA study from Duke University sheds light on the extinction of giant lemurs, finding that their smaller population sizes made them more susceptible to extinction. The research suggests that lessons learned from ancient DNA can be useful in protecting remaining species.

SourceDuke University·JournalJournal of Human Evolution·DateDec 16, 2014

Big-data analysis reveals gene sharing in mice

Researchers detected three instances of cross-species mating that influenced the evolutionary paths of old world mice, suggesting hybridization may not be an evolutionary dead end. The study found shared genetic code between two species of mice from Europe and Africa, with implications for human genetics and health.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 16, 2014

Combining social media and behavioral psychology could lead to more HIV testing

A new study from UCLA found that combining social media with behavioral psychology increased HIV testing rates among men who have sex with men in Peru. The Harnessing Online Peer Education intervention was more effective than traditional care through social media, suggesting a valuable tool in the fight against HIV.

Scientists trace nanoparticles from plants to caterpillars

A Rice University study examines how nanoparticles move through the food chain, tracing uptake and accumulation in plant roots, leaves, and caterpillars. The research found significant variation in nanoparticle accumulation rates based on surface coating types, with negatively charged particles avoiding clumping altogether.

SourceRice University·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateDec 16, 2014

Kent State professor publishes exact solution to model Big Bang and quark gluon plasma

A team of researchers led by Kent State professor Michael Strickland has developed an exact solution to a complex physics equation, enabling more accurate modeling of the universe's earliest moments and high-energy particle collisions. The breakthrough has far-reaching implications for fields like galactic structure, supernovae, and he...

SourceKent State University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateDec 16, 2014

New research unlocks a mystery of albinism

Scientists have discovered that a genetic mutation associated with type 2 oculocutaneous albinism blocks ion channels in melanosomes, leading to a lack of melanin production. The study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying albinism and may inspire new treatment ideas.

The sense of smell uses fast dynamics to encode odors

Researchers use light to control neurons in genetically-engineered mice, allowing for precise detection of odor dynamics. Mice demonstrate ability to discriminate between dynamic activities, suggesting neural population dynamics play a crucial role in the sense of smell.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateDec 16, 2014

When you lose weight, where does the fat go?

A recent study published in the British Medical Journal found that losing 10 kilograms of fat requires 29 kilograms of oxygen to be inhaled, producing 28 kilograms of carbon dioxide and 11 kilograms of water. Most doctors, dieticians, and personal trainers incorrectly believe that the missing mass is converted into energy or heat.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalThe BMJ·DateDec 16, 2014

Bacterial 'bunches' linked to some colorectal cancers

A small study by Johns Hopkins researchers found that dense bacterial mats called biofilms are present in the majority of colorectal cancers and polyps, particularly on the right side of the colon. The presence of these bacterial bunches may increase cancer risk and form the basis of new diagnostic tests.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 16, 2014

Severely mentally ill criminals: Who goes to prison and who goes to psych institutions?

Researchers found higher levels of education among those declared not criminally responsible for a crime and hospitalized. Additionally, incarcerated individuals with severe mental disorders had a greater history of suicide attempts and psychopathic traits, emphasizing the need for shared care models between legal and healthcare systems.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalIssues in Mental Health Nursing·DateDec 16, 2014

Cracking the code of brain development

Using state-of-the-art sequencing technology, researchers identified thousands of differences in gene expression across six life stages and found that genes containing these regions were crucial to the maturation process of neurons during fetal development. The study's findings suggest a 'signature' found in cells from the earliest sta...

SourceLieber Institute for Brain Development·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateDec 16, 2014

Ocean acidification a culprit in commercial shellfish hatcheries' failures

A new study found that Pacific oyster and Mediterranean mussel larvae are sensitive to the saturation state of seawater, which is lowered by increasing CO2 levels. The threshold for danger will be crossed decades to centuries ahead of when CO2 increases alone would pose a threat. Shellfish hatcheries alter water chemistry to create mor...

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalNature Climate Change·DateDec 16, 2014

New technology advances eye tracking as biomarker for brain function and brain injury

Researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center developed new technology that tracks eye movements to assess brain injuries, offering a potential biological marker for brain function and recovery. The study found abnormal eye movement ratios in patients with nerve damage or swelling in the brain, which were restored after surgery.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalJournal of Neurosurgery·DateDec 16, 2014

New technology directly reprograms skin fibroblasts for a new role

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered a way to directly reprogram skin fibroblasts into functional melanocytes, the body's pigment-producing cells. This technique has significant implications for developing new cell-based treatments for skin diseases and screening strategies for melanoma.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 16, 2014

Is a Nintendo a safe Christmas present?

A team of Dutch researchers analyzed reported cases of Nintendo-related injuries and found a range of problems including seizures, incontinence, and tendonitis. Most issues are mild, but playing for extended periods or without breaks can lead to more severe health consequences.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·DateDec 16, 2014

Study recommends GPs should be more open when referring patients for cancer investigations

A study published in the British Journal of General Practice found that GPs often do not refer patients for cancer investigations due to concerns about raising patient anxiety. Researchers suggest that GPs should consider discussing cancer possibilities with more openness and involve patients in the decision-making process.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalBritish Journal of General Practice·DateDec 16, 2014

Social connections keep workers on board

A new study found that some employees respond positively to change in the workplace by implementing new methods or techniques, coaching team members, or establishing new goals. Experts say organizations should review their recruitment and selection processes to ensure compatibility between employees' values and work environment.

SourceMonash University·JournalJournal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology·DateDec 16, 2014

Domestic abuse may affect children in womb

Research by Michigan State University scientists reveals a strong link between mothers' prenatal domestic abuse and postnatal trauma symptoms in their children. The study found that prenatal abuse can cause changes in the mother's stress response systems, leading to increased cortisol levels in the fetus.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalChild Abuse & Neglect·DateDec 16, 2014

Political extremists may be less susceptible to common cognitive bias

A study published in Psychological Science found that people with extreme political beliefs are less influenced by outside information and more resistant to the anchor bias, suggesting they make more confident judgments. The results suggest that political extremists' strong belief in the superiority of their ideology may be a key factor.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateDec 16, 2014

A beetle named Marco Polo

A team of Chinese and Italian scientists have discovered a new species of blister beetle, Hycleus marcipoli, part of the understudied phaleratus group. The name 'Marco Polo' pays tribute to the collaboration during Ph.D. studies between China and Italy.

SourcePensoft Publishers·JournalZooKeys·DateDec 16, 2014

Stay complex, my friends

Researchers found that long-lasting hosts evolved more complex defenses against parasites, providing a survival advantage. The study used the Avida platform to model co-evolution between host and virus, revealing a surprising large proportion of 'switching' mutations in co-evolved hosts.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalPLOS Biology·DateDec 16, 2014

Season's eatings

Michigan State University researcher Kelly Klump found a link between women's monthly hormonal changes and intensified body obsession, increasing the risk of eating disorders. The study suggests that cultural perceptions of increased food intake as negative can be detrimental, particularly during holidays.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalInternational Journal of Eating Disorders·DateDec 16, 2014