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Science News for January 23, 2014


The evolution of drug resistance within a HIV population

A study in PLOS Genetics found that HIV drug resistance mutations can spread rapidly within a patient, leading to a homogeneous or heterogeneous viral population. The researchers estimate the effective population size of HIV to be around 150,000, which may help inform treatment strategies and predict resistance evolution.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateJan 23, 2014

Can walkies tell who's the leader of the pack?

Researchers tracked six dogs and their owner on group walks to measure social behavior and determine personalities. Dogs that consistently took the lead were more responsive to training, older, and more aggressive than those that followed.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateJan 23, 2014

Choose your love

Researchers found that females who mated with preferred males produced more offspring and were better able to cope with infection from Salmonella compared to offspring sired by non-preferred males. The fitness benefits were due to tolerance to infection rather than immune resistance.

SourceUniversity of Veterinary Medicine -- Vienna·JournalBMC Evolutionary Biology·DateJan 23, 2014

Tracing unique cells with mathematics

Scientists have created a new statistical method to analyze individual cells, allowing for more accurate detection of cell properties. By combining data from multiple cells, researchers can reduce errors and overcome statistical noise, leading to better understanding of cellular behavior and development.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 23, 2014

Probing hydrogen catalyst assembly

The study demonstrates how cyanide and carbon monoxide are safely bound to an iron atom to construct an enzyme that can generate hydrogen gas. This discovery sheds light on the unusual chemistry involved in binding small molecules to metal atoms, a crucial step towards producing hydrogen using abundant metals.

Diabetes: We are in it together

A recent study published in BMC Medicine has found that living in a household with a spouse who has type 2 diabetes can increase the risk of developing the condition. The research team analyzed data from six studies and found that spousal diabetes was associated with a 26% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

SourceMcGill University Health Centre·JournalBMC Medicine·DateJan 23, 2014

Sickle cell trait in African-American dialysis patients affects dosing of anemia drugs

Studies found that African-American hemodialysis patients with sickle cell trait received about 13% more anemia medications than those without the trait to achieve the same level of hemoglobin. The presence of sickle cell trait was also more common among dialysis patients, affecting approximately 10% of study participants.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateJan 23, 2014

The $125 billion question: How will the ACA affect cancer survivors?

Researchers at VCU Massey Cancer Center are studying how the ACA affects cancer screening in low-income women and employed married women with breast cancer. The study found that Medicaid expansions increased breast and cervical cancer screening, particularly among low-income women, suggesting a positive effect of near-universal coverag...

SourceVirginia Commonwealth University·JournalJournal of Health Economics·DateJan 23, 2014

Sports medicine physical of the future could help athletes 'ESCAPE' sudden cardiac death

A new focused ultrasound exam has been shown to accurately identify athletes with undetected cardiovascular conditions, reducing the risk of sudden cardiac death. The Early Screening for Cardiovascular Abnormalities With Preparticipation Echocardiography (ESCAPE) protocol could become the sports medicine physical of the future.

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·JournalJournal of Ultrasound in Medicine·DateJan 23, 2014

The rocky road to a better flu vaccine

Researchers found that a new adjuvant improved flu vaccine effectiveness in mice and showed promise for the elderly. The study also highlighted the importance of characterizing immune responses following intra-nasal vaccinations, particularly with novel adjuvants.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateJan 23, 2014

Patients receiving ADT should be counseled to improve mental and emotional well-being

A new study published in the Journal of Urology reports that prostate cancer patients treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) experienced changes in mental and emotional well-being during treatment, with no significant decline in emotional quality of life two years after treatment. Investigators recommend counseling men about p...

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalThe Journal of Urology·DateJan 23, 2014

Mitochondrial ribosome revealed

Researchers at ETH Zurich deciphered the structure of the large subunit of the mitochondrial ribosome, a complex enzyme that deciphers genetic code and assembles amino acids into proteins. The study's success relies on a combination of high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy and chemical cross-linking combined with mass spectrometry.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature·DateJan 23, 2014

10 years on Mars leads to livable mud

The CSIRO Australia-led research reveals the oldest minerals ever analyzed by NASA's Mars Opportunity Rover show evidence of liquid water on Mars around 4 billion years ago. The discovery suggests that past water activity may have created livable mud, increasing the chances of life on Mars.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalScience·DateJan 23, 2014

Fur and feathers keep animals warm by scattering light

Researchers found that fur coats and down feathers derive their insulating power from an optical mechanism involving the scattering of infrared light. This discovery could lead to improved building insulation and the development of new types of ultrathin insulation.

SourceOptica·JournalOptics Express·DateJan 23, 2014

CWRU study finds depression symptoms and emotional support impact PTSD treatment progress

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University found that rapid improvements in depression symptoms during PTSD treatments are associated with better outcomes. Negative social support from family or friends was also linked to worsening depression symptoms, while transient spikes did not negatively impact treatment progress.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalJournal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·DateJan 23, 2014

Large and in charge

A new study suggests that early multicellular organisms grew larger to access nutrient-rich currents in the deep seas. The research, published in Current Biology, reveals that these enigmatic life-forms, known as Ediacara biota, reached heights of up to a meter to compete for resources.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJan 23, 2014

Putting a brake on tumor spread

A team of scientists found that a protein called focal adhesion kinase (FAK) enables tumor cells to spread into the bloodstream by weakening the blood vessel barrier. Selective inhibition of FAK within endothelial cells prevents spontaneous tumor metastasis without altering tumor size.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalJournal of Cell Biology·DateJan 23, 2014

New analysis suggests that further trials of vitamin D have little chance of showing health benefits

A new analysis of 40 randomized controlled trials suggests that vitamin D supplementation does not prevent heart attacks, strokes, or bone fractures. The study concludes that vitamin D supplements probably provide little to no health benefit, contradicting previous observational studies that linked deficiency to poor health.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology·DateJan 23, 2014

What makes cell division accurate?

A team led by Yixian Zheng identified a protein that regulates interactions between kinetochores and microtubules, improving our understanding of chromosome alignment. The study suggests expanding the scope of research to include other cellular components for a deeper understanding of mitosis.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateJan 23, 2014

Insulin-producing beta cells from stem cells

Researchers at Helmholtz Munich have made a breakthrough in creating insulin-producing beta cells from stem cells. By understanding the molecular regulation of stem cell differentiation, they can generate functional specialized cells for regenerative therapy approaches to chronic diseases like diabetes. This discovery has significant i...

Islands in the brain: New circuit shapes memory formation

Researchers discovered a new brain circuit that shapes memory formation by endowing neurons with the ability to connect two events separated in time into a single experience. Island cells, found in the entorhinal cortex, project to the hippocampus and suppress the formation of temporal associations.

SourceRIKEN·JournalScience·DateJan 23, 2014

Generation blame: How age affects our views of anti-social behavior

A study found significant gaps in perceptions of anti-social behavior between age groups. Adults were more likely than young people to interpret behaviors like swearing and cycling on the street as ASB. Young people, particularly teenagers, were seen as perpetrators of ASB, but also as victims when an elderly man shouted insults at them.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalCrime Prevention and Community Safety·DateJan 23, 2014

Interventions work to stem freshman drinking

A systematic review of data from over 40 studies found that colleges can reduce freshman drinking by implementing personalized feedback reports, which significantly helped students to reduce their drinking frequency, quantity, and alcohol-related problems. Interventions combining multiple techniques proved most effective in reducing fi...

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·DateJan 23, 2014

A time for memories

Researchers at the University of Leicester used intracranial electrodes to record single neurons in epilepsy patients and found a specific brain response marking the timing of these neuron firings. This response, present for consciously recognized pictures, is thought to be a gateway for processing stimuli to form memories.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJan 23, 2014

Experiments show hypothesis of microtubule steering accurate

Researchers used laboratory experiments to test a model of microtubule steering, finding that kinesin motors can redirect microtubule ends into branches using crowd-sourced guidance from protein EB1. The study suggests this mechanism is a general strategy for organizing and maintaining proper microtubule polarity in cells.

SourcePenn State·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJan 23, 2014

Near error-free wireless detection made possible

Researchers at the University of Cambridge developed a new system that greatly improves the accuracy and range of radio frequency identification (RFID) systems. The system achieves near 100% accurate passive RFID tag detection and increases reliable detection range from two to three meters to approximately 20 meters.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalIEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation·DateJan 23, 2014

A scientific first: Physicists, physicians, engineers photograph radiation beams in the human body through the Cherenkov effect

Researchers have successfully used the Cherenkov effect to capture and visualize radiation beams entering or exiting the human body. This breakthrough technology enables doctors to see the dose of radiation to the skin and detect errors in dosage, potentially reducing side effects like skin reactions during breast cancer treatment.

SourceThe Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth·JournalJournal of Biomedical Optics·DateJan 23, 2014