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Science News for January 21, 2014


New Penn index detects early signs of deviation from normal brain development

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a brain development index from MRI scans that captures normal brain maturation patterns. The study shows a relationship between cognitive development and physical changes in the developing young brain, allowing for early detection of subtle developmental abnormalities.

Not safe at home

A new study found that tag plays at home plate have the highest injury rate in professional baseball, occurring 4.3 times more often than other base-running plays. The researchers suggest adopting the collegiate rule to reduce collisions and protect both catchers and baserunners.

SourceAtrium Health Wake Forest Baptist·JournalInternational Journal of Sports Medicine·DateJan 21, 2014

New test targets salmonella

Researchers at Rice University have developed a novel biosensor that can detect multiple strains of salmonella pathogens in food quickly and easily. The sensor uses microcantilevers decorated with peptides to identify the presence of specific bacteria, delivering results within minutes and outperforming existing standard tests.

SourceRice University·JournalAnalytical Chemistry·DateJan 21, 2014

All FDA drug approvals not created equal

A study published in JAMA found that more than one-third of FDA-approved drugs were approved based on a single clinical trial, without replication. The study analyzed the strength of clinical trial evidence supporting drug approvals from 2005 to 2012 and found significant variability in trial design and duration.

SourceYale University·JournalJAMA·DateJan 21, 2014

Guys: Get married for the sake of your bones, but wait until you're 25

A new UCLA study found that married men who waited until 25 or older to get married had stronger bones than those who got married earlier. In contrast, women with supportive partners had greater bone strength, regardless of their age at marriage. The study suggests that marriage quality plays a significant role in bone health.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalOsteoporosis International·DateJan 21, 2014

Study: Electric drive vehicles have little impact on US pollutant emissions

A new study from North Carolina State University indicates that increasing electric drive vehicle use will have little impact on reducing carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide emissions. The researchers found that even if EDVs made up 42 percent of passenger vehicles, there would be limited emission reductions.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateJan 21, 2014

A 21st century adaptation of the Miller-Urey origin of life experiments

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and NASA have developed a simplified approach to the Miller-Urey experiment, which aims to recreate the conditions under which organic molecules could have formed on early Earth. The study successfully forms amino acids, building blocks of life, under primitive Earth conditions.

SourceThe Journal of Visualized Experiments·JournalJournal of Visualized Experiments·DateJan 21, 2014

How the genetic blueprints for limbs came from fish

Researchers discovered similar DNA organization in fish and mice, indicating a shared genetic mechanism for limb formation. The study suggests that digits evolved by modernizing an existing regulatory mechanism in fish, rather than through a radical change.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJan 21, 2014

Live feed into our bodies

A device called MEDIC combines engineering and biochemistry to monitor specific drug levels in the bloodstream, offering potential for tailored prescriptions. The device uses microfluidic chambers lined with gold electrodes to detect target molecules in real-time.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJan 21, 2014

Are anti-poaching efforts repeating the mistakes of the 'war on drugs'?

New research questions the effectiveness of increased enforcement measures against poaching, citing a potential increase in organized crime involvement. The authors argue that addressing the root causes of poaching, such as growing wealth gaps between African supply areas and Asian demand centers, is crucial to conservation efforts.

SourceWiley·JournalConservation Letters·DateJan 21, 2014

9 and 60 ways of particle tracking

A contest for the best particle tracking technique found that each method has its own strengths, but none were deemed unequivocally superior. The challenge, which aimed to track hundreds of intracellular organelles, was marked by oversimplification in image series, limiting algorithm performance on real data.

SourceLomonosov Moscow State University·JournalNature Methods·DateJan 21, 2014

2014 Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine

Elena Conti wins the prize for her work on understanding the mechanisms governing RNA quality, transport, and degradation, while Denis Le Bihan receives it for his innovative brain imaging technique that has revolutionized stroke diagnosis and treatment. Both researchers will use the prize money to further their research.

SourceEMBO·DateJan 21, 2014

Hospitals and nursing homes can learn much from hospice care

A study found that training hospital staff in basic hospice strategies led to improved end-of-life care, including more orders for pain medication and the removal of nasogastric tubes. The intervention also increased the presence of advance directives, reducing distress for patients and families.

SourceSpringer·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateJan 21, 2014

Desire to reproduce drives active nightlife of birds

A study found that yellow-breasted chat males visit multiple territories at night to search for partners during their fertile period, increasing reproductive success. The researchers used radio transmitters and triangulation software to track the birds' movements, revealing a previously unknown behavior in diurnal species.

Cancer diagnosis doesn't increase a child's risk of post-traumatic stress disorder

A study by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital found that childhood cancer patients are no more likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than their healthy peers. Despite a life-threatening diagnosis, young cancer patients reported benefits from the experience, including greater empathy and closer relationships with fa...

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateJan 21, 2014

E-whiskers

Researchers at Berkeley Lab created highly sensitive tactile sensors using composite films of carbon nanotubes and silver nanoparticles, 10 times more sensitive than previous pressure sensors. These e-whiskers can be integrated into various systems to enable robots to 'see' and 'feel' their surroundings.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 21, 2014

Small elliptical exercise device may promote activity while sitting

Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine found that using a compact elliptical device while sitting can lead to significant weight loss and prevention of weight gain. The study involved 32 participants who used the device for one hour daily, resulting in an average weight loss of 5.2 pounds per year.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Science and Medicine in Sport·DateJan 21, 2014

Got milk? Evolutionary connection between milk drinking, lactose digestion, and sunlight

A new study published in Molecular Biology and Evolution suggests that strong natural selection acted on lactase persistence in Iberia over the last 7,000 years. The 'calcium assimilation hypothesis' is challenged as sunlight in Iberia allows for vitamin D synthesis, making calcium deficiency less of a concern.

Most high-risk cardiac devices in use today approved as modifications to previously-approved devices

A study from Brigham and Women's Hospital found that most cardiac implantable electronic devices were approved as changes to existing PMA-approved models without new clinical data. This raises concerns about patient safety, particularly for devices such as the St. Jude Medical Riata and Medtronic Sprint Fidelis defibrillator leads.

3-D imaging provides window into living cells, no dye required

A new imaging technique called white-light diffraction tomography (WDT) provides high-resolution, three-dimensional images of living cells without the need for dyes or chemicals. This allows researchers to study cellular processes and dynamics in a non-invasive manner, enabling unprecedented insights into cell function and behavior.