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Science News for January 16, 2014


Fighting flies

A team of researchers from Caltech identified specific brain cells in male fruit flies that release a hormone promoting aggression. These findings suggest that aggression is genetically controlled and may be linked to personality disorders in humans. The study validates the use of fruit flies as a model for studying human aggression.

Typhoid fever -- A race against time

Researchers at the University of Basel have discovered how Salmonella bacteria outsmart the host's immune cells, allowing them to survive and spread infection. This knowledge may lead to new treatments for typhoid fever, a life-threatening disease affecting millions worldwide.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalCell Host & Microbe·DateJan 16, 2014

Stem cells overcome damage in other cells by exporting mitochondria

Researchers have identified a protein that enables the transfer of mitochondria from stem cells to damaged epithelial cells, rejuvenating their health. This discovery could lead to more effective therapies for lung disease in humans by engineering mesenchymal stem cells to produce healthy mitochondria.

SourceEMBO·JournalThe EMBO Journal·DateJan 16, 2014

Large numbers of patients in South Africa with untreatable tuberculosis are discharged into community with potential for spread of infectionare discharged into community with potential for spread of infection

A study in South Africa found that nearly half of XDR-TB patients discharged into the community were treatment failures, posing a significant risk to public health. The study also revealed that these patients could survive for months or even years, allowing them to infect others.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateJan 16, 2014

JCI early table of contents for Jan. 16, 2014

New research reveals that macrophage populations mediate tumor cell removal following monoclonal antibody treatment. Additionally, targeting the p57Kip2 pathway in adults with type 2 diabetes may improve β cell function and expand β cell mass.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJan 16, 2014

How metabolism and brain activity are linked

A recent study by McGill University researchers discovered a direct link between brain metabolism and signaling, which may explain why seizures in some epilepsy patients can be controlled with a specially formulated diet. The research also found that the mitochondria of brain cells play a crucial role in energy production and signaling.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 16, 2014

Carbon nanotube sponge shows improved water clean-up

A new study presents a carbon nanotube sponge that can absorb water contaminants, such as fertilizers, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals, with improved efficiency. The sponge's porous structure and rough surface enable it to absorb oils and solvents up to 150 times its initial weight.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalNanotechnology·DateJan 16, 2014

45 years on: How serotonin makes schistosome parasites move

A study published in PLOS Pathogens has identified a key player in the movement of schistosome parasites: serotonin receptors. The discovery opens up new avenues for developing targeted treatments against this parasitic flatworm, which affects millions worldwide and kills an estimated 250,000 people annually.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateJan 16, 2014

Silencing inhibitor of cell replication spurs beta cells to reproduce

Researchers replicated human pancreatic beta cells in a mouse model using a silencing inhibitor, showcasing their ability to replicate while maintaining mature properties. The study's findings have implications for developing treatments to enhance beta-cell mass and insulin production for both type 1 and 2 diabetic patients.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJan 16, 2014

Medicaid expansion improves health care services for prison population

A nationwide survey of state prison administrators found that Medicaid enrollment increased in preparation for release, improving access to basic health services. Most systems provided assistance with reenrollment, but termination policies were common, making it challenging for prisoners to access care upon release.

SourceLifespan·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateJan 16, 2014

Prion discovery could help keep deadly brain diseases in check

Scientists have discovered a natural protective response in brain cells that can minimize the production of diseased prion proteins, potentially helping to prevent or delay neurological diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The study also found that this mechanism may be relevant to other neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJan 16, 2014

Brain on autopilot

Researchers analyzed 1.6 billion connections within the brain and found highest agreement between structure and information flow in the default mode network, responsible for inward-focused thinking. The study suggests that the structural architecture of the brain ensures automatic switching to something useful when not being used.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNeuroImage·DateJan 16, 2014

Loss of biodiversity limits toxin degradation

A moderate loss of soil microbes may compromise key ecosystem functions and lower toxin degradation. Research found that specialized bacterial functions are not as effective without a rich diversity of soil bacteria.

SourceWiley·JournalEnvironmental Microbiology·DateJan 16, 2014

Sludge as new sentinel for human health risks

A study by Arjun Venkatesan and Rolf Halden found that sludge contains 123 distinct CECs, including high-production volume chemicals like flame-retardants and antimicrobials. Analysis of these chemicals in sludge may provide a useful surrogate for assessing human exposure and bioaccumulation.

SourceArizona State University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 16, 2014

The symphony of life, revealed

A new study uses a technique developed by UB physics professor Andrea Markelz to observe lysozyme protein vibrations, finding they persist in molecules like the 'ringing of a bell'. This discovery opens up a whole new way of studying life's basic cellular processes.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 16, 2014

Increased mobility thanks to robotic rehab

A new study by ETH Zurich researchers shows that robotic therapy outperforms conventional physiotherapy in improving sensory-motor function and arm mobility. Robot-assisted therapy enables patients to carry out exercises independently and motivates them via computer game elements, leading to better results in terms of mobility.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalThe Lancet Neurology·DateJan 16, 2014

CCNY team models sudden thickening of complex fluids

The CCNY team created a model that predicts how resistance changes in relation to stirring speed, which can help improve the processing of materials in suspension. The model modifies classical fluid mechanics approaches to include forces resulting from friction, allowing for accurate reproduction of experimental observations.

SourceCity College of New York·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 16, 2014

Researchers 'detune' a molecule

Researchers at Rice University found that they can control the bonds between atoms in a molecule by applying a voltage and running an electric current through a single buckyball. The effect appears when the buckyball attaches to a gold surface, causing its internal bonds to undergo a subtle shift.

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

A CNIO study finds a 'molecular scaffolding' that maintains skin structure and organisation

Researchers at CNIO discovered a connection between microtubules and cell-cell junctions that holds skin stem cells together to support skin architecture. This finding sheds light on the importance of cellular components in maintaining skin function and may lead to new regenerative or anti-cancer therapies.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO)·JournalJournal of Cell Biology·DateJan 16, 2014

Immune cells may heal an injured heart

A study in mice reveals two major pools of immune cells that promote healing and drive inflammation in the heart. Healthy hearts maintain a population of embryonic macrophages, while adult macrophages are recruited during cardiac stress, leading to inflammation. The findings provide new insights into the complex interplay between these...

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalImmunity·DateJan 16, 2014

Soil production breaks geologic speed record

Researchers in New Zealand have discovered that rock can transform into soil more than twice as fast as previously thought possible. Soil production rates range from 0.1 to 2.5 millimeters per year, depending on soil thickness and location. This breakthrough has implications for the Earth's carbon cycle and weathering processes.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalScience·DateJan 16, 2014

Fathers' diet, bodyweight and health at conception may contribute to obesity in offspring

A new study published in The FASEB Journal suggests that an obese father's diet may contribute to his child's risk of developing obesity, type 2 diabetes, and chronic degenerative diseases. Researchers found altered gene expression in the pancreas and fat tissue of female offspring born to obese male rats on a high-fat diet.