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Science News for November 13, 2014


Total recall: The science behind it

A new international study led by the Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre has identified a molecule that puts a brake on brain processing and when removed, brain function and memory recall are improved. The study found that suppressing the production of molecules required for building new memories leads to stronger con...

SourceMcGill University Health Centre·JournalCell Reports·DateNov 13, 2014

Cold-induced pain linked to the garlic and mustard receptor

Researchers at Lund University have identified a mechanism that creates cold-induced pain, linking it to the same receptor that reacts to pungent substances in mustard and garlic. This discovery could help those with cold allodynia, a common problem among patients with chronic pain or nervous system diseases.

SourceLund University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 13, 2014

Ocean carbon uptake more variable than thought

Researchers created a global model of CO2 uptake using fine-scale observations, finding strong interannual variations and the Pacific Ocean dominating flux variability. The study's lead author notes that shipboard measurements provide key data for estimating ocean CO2 sink variability.

SourceWiley·JournalGlobal Biogeochemical Cycles·DateNov 13, 2014

Ocean primed for more El Niño

A new study using coral samples from a remote Pacific island in Kiribati reveals the ocean has warmed over the last sixty years, priming it for stronger El Niáo events. This warming trend could have a major impact on Australia's weather, particularly during El Niáo events when warm waters move eastward and bring droughts.

SourceAustralian National University·JournalPaleoceanography·DateNov 13, 2014

Is there such a thing as 'Facebook Murder'?

A recent investigation explored whether Facebook murders were unique and worthy of a new label. The study found that these crimes followed typical patterns, with victims knowing their killers, and social media played no more significant role than other tools in the commission of violence.

SourceWiley·JournalThe Howard Journal of Criminal Justice·DateNov 13, 2014

Solving the puzzle of cooperation in group environments

The study reveals that cooperation emerges when individuals assemble into groups that interact through repeated Public Goods Games. The authors propose an evolutionary game theory model, which suggests a large set of possible responses depending on previous levels of group cooperation. Ultimately, the most successful strategy is 'All-o...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateNov 13, 2014

Parental age at childbirth may affect metabolism of adult offspring

A study found that middle-aged men whose parents were older at birth had lower blood pressure, more favorable cholesterol levels, and improved glucose metabolism. Further research is needed to determine the causes of this effect, with epigenetics and post-natal factors being potential explanations.

SourceWiley·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Biology·DateNov 13, 2014

Bigger is not always better

A new study of over 12,000 Danish patients with hip fractures found that those treated in smaller hospital departments had a lower mortality rate and shorter length of stay. The quality of care was also higher in these departments compared to larger ones.

SourceAarhus University·JournalMedical Care·DateNov 13, 2014

Cookie Monster teaches self-control

A study by University of Iowa professor Deborah Linebarger found that preschoolers who watched videos starring Cookie Monster were better able to control impulses and remember number sequences. These executive functioning skills are crucial for school readiness and predict academic skills like reading, math, and science.

New Alzheimer's-related memory disorder identified

A new neurological disease closely resembling Alzheimer's disease, called primary age-related tauopathy (PART), has been defined and established criteria for diagnosis. PART is characterized by cognitive impairment without amyloid plaques, but with neurofibrillary tangles composed of a protein called tau.

SourceUniversity of Kentucky·JournalActa Neuropathologica·DateNov 13, 2014

Bird battles promote unity on the front line

Research from the University of Bristol found that bird groups unite at nightfall after territorial conflicts, strengthening their defense of valuable roost sites. This cooperation between group members is favored by conflict with outsiders, highlighting a link to human societal evolution.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalCurrent Biology·DateNov 13, 2014

Without security, there can be no health care

A recent review reports on the devastating effects of the Syrian conflict on the healthcare system, including outbreaks of poliomyelitis, measles, and cutaneous leishmaniasis. Vaccination coverage has dropped dramatically, hampering efforts to combat these epidemics.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateNov 13, 2014

Pulling together the early solar system

A team of researchers has provided evidence that the early solar system's protoplanetary disk was shaped by an intense magnetic field, driving gas toward the sun at a rapid rate. The study analyzed a meteorite sample, extracting individual grains and measuring their magnetic orientations to determine the original magnetic field.

Forecasting diseases using Wikipedia

A team from Los Alamos National Laboratory successfully monitored and forecasted influenza, dengue fever, and tuberculosis outbreaks worldwide. The study demonstrates the potential of using public health data to build an operational disease monitoring system.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateNov 13, 2014

It's not always the DNA

Research reveals that damaged messenger RNA can cause ribosomes to jam, leading to the production of short proteins and contributing to neurodegenerative diseases. Oxidized mRNA was found to accumulate in cells with advanced Alzheimer's, highlighting a potential mechanism for the disease.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalCell Reports·DateNov 13, 2014

Telephone coaches improve children's asthma treatment

A new program has been shown to reduce asthma symptoms and hospitalizations in low-income children by training their parents over the phone. The peer coaching model, which was tested in a two-year trial, resulted in significant reductions in ER visits and hospitalizations among families with Medicaid insurance.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·DateNov 13, 2014

Symbiotic plants are more diverse, finds new study

A recent study by Cornell University research found that symbiotic plants develop nectar glands to attract and feed protective animals like ants, leading to increased diversity in plant species over time. This mutualistic relationship allows plants to allocate energy resources to new traits and adapt to new environments.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 13, 2014

EPA's Clean Power Plan: Economic strengths and weaknesses

The plan aims to reduce carbon emissions from power plants by 30% by 2030 through various actions such as improving efficiency, using natural gas, expanding renewables, and creating energy efficiency programs. However, economists argue that the current design of the plan may not achieve its intended emissions reductions due to a lack o...

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalScience·DateNov 13, 2014

For female chimpanzees, no consent agreement

A new study published in Current Biology by Feldblum et al. has found that male chimpanzee aggression towards females is an adaptive strategy, increasing mating frequency and paternal likelihood for high-ranking males. Genetic analysis of fecal material reveals long-term sexual coercion as a key factor in paternity.

SourceArizona State University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateNov 13, 2014

Molecule fights cancer on 2 fronts

Researchers have developed a synthetic anti-cancer molecule JK-31 that blocks the signalling of a 'growth factor' chemical promoting blood vessel networks to feed tumours. The molecule also inhibits a protein controlling cancer cell division and proliferation.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalPLOS ONE·DateNov 13, 2014

Oxytocin helps to better overcome fear

Researchers found that oxytocin facilitates extinction of conditioned fear in humans by reducing activity in the amygdala and increasing stimulation in fear-inhibiting regions. This basic research could lead to new treatments for anxiety disorders.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateNov 13, 2014

New theory may help demystify pregnancy-related condition

A new theory proposes that preeclampsia is caused by the body's response to insufficient oxygen and nutrient supply to the growing fetus, leading to high blood pressure and organ damage. The condition can have fatal complications for pregnant women and their babies if left untreated.

SourceWiley·JournalAnaesthesia·DateNov 13, 2014

Mars, too, has macroweather

A new study by McGill University and UCL finds that Mars experiences a transitional 'macroweather' regime between weather and climate. The sun plays a major role in determining macroweather on Mars, with temperature and wind fluctuations occurring over 1.8 Martian days.

SourceMcGill University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateNov 13, 2014

How adult fly testes keep from changing into ovaries

Researchers discovered a mutation in adult fruit flies that prevents testicular cells from transforming into ovaries, maintaining sex identity. The study's findings have implications for understanding cell fate conversions and may lead to new therapeutic approaches.

SourceCell Press·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateNov 13, 2014

Researchers calculate 'hidden' emissions in traded meat

A study estimated embodied methane and nitrous oxide emissions in beef, chicken, and pork from livestock to countries where they are consumed. The researchers found a 19% increase in 'hidden' emissions over the past 20 years, with Russia receiving most of its emissions from Brazil and Argentina.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateNov 13, 2014

Guidelines say nearly all patients with chronic kidney disease should take statins

Two cholesterol management guidelines agree that nearly all patients with chronic kidney disease should receive statins, but 50% of those recommended are not taking them. The study found the Pooled Cohort risk equations to be accurate among people with CKD, indicating a valid tool for estimating heart disease risk.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateNov 13, 2014

New process isolates promising material

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a method to isolate atomically thin sheets of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), a promising material for optoelectronics and electronics. The process uses copolymer-assisted gradient ultracentrifugation, allowing for scalable isolation of single-layer, bilayer, or trilayer MoS2 sheets.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 13, 2014

Architecture of a lipid transport protein revealed

The structure determination of a lipid scramblase reveals a novel protein architecture that enables the transport of lipids across cell membranes. The discovery provides insight into the activation of the protein by calcium and has implications for understanding previously unknown mechanisms of lipid transport.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNature·DateNov 13, 2014

Britain's obese in denial about their weight

A majority of obese people in Britain deny being obese, describing themselves as 'just right' or 'very overweight' instead. The study suggests that media coverage and public health campaigns may be contributing to this phenomenon, as people become less likely to recognize the health risks associated with their weight.

SourceCancer Research UK·JournalBMJ Open·DateNov 13, 2014