Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for August 25, 2015


Many parents unaware of e-cigarette dangers to children?

A new study at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that nearly all parents who use e-cigarettes are not aware of the risks to their children, including lethal ingestion and skin exposure. The researchers emphasize the need for pediatricians to ask about nicotine use and discuss safe storage practices.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalAcademic Pediatrics·DateAug 25, 2015

Is incense bad for your health?

A recent study found that incense smoke contains mutagenic properties, causing genetic mutations and potential cancers. Incense was compared to cigarette smoke in a comparison of indoor use, revealing surprising results.

SourceSpringer·JournalEnvironmental Chemistry Letters·DateAug 25, 2015

The Lancet Infectious Diseases: Experimental post-exposure antiviral treatment may protect humans from Ebola virus

A case-series of eight British healthcare workers who received antiviral-based therapies after possible accidental exposure to Ebola virus in Sierra Leone did not develop the disease. The study suggests that post-exposure prophylaxis may be effective in preventing Ebola infection, and authors call for standardised guidelines to be deve...

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Infectious Diseases·DateAug 25, 2015

Debut of the global mix-master

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current began its eastern flow through the Southern Ocean 30 million years ago, driven by the Tasmanian gateway's alignment with mid-latitude westerly wind bands. This massive ocean current transports heat and salt around the world, shaping regional climates.

SourceUniversity of South Carolina·JournalNature·DateAug 25, 2015

Project in West Africa sees dramatic drop in TB death rates

A project in Togo saw a 10% drop in TB death rates by increasing the treatment success rate to 95%, while mortality dropped from 13% to 3%. The redesigned system improved coverage, quality, and patient participation, highlighting the importance of data analysis and skilled workforce.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalBMJ Quality Improvement Reports·DateAug 25, 2015

Gut feeling restored by growth outside the body

Researchers successfully joined two separate pieces of embryonic mouse intestine using growth supports, allowing nerve signals to pass through and promoting growth. The breakthrough could lead to treatment for conditions like short bowel syndrome, a condition causing damage to the bowel that prevents nutrient absorption.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalJournal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine·DateAug 25, 2015

How plant sensors detect pathogens

A team of scientists has discovered how a plant sensor detects pathogens, bringing unprecedented detail to the 'gene-for-gene' hypothesis. The study reveals that the strength of binding between the sensor and pathogen proteins correlates with the plant's response, opening up new strategies for engineering enhanced resistance.

Water covers 70 percent of the Earth's surface, but only a fraction is fresh

The current issue of Technology and Innovation highlights the challenges of ensuring water security due to growing concerns over fresh water availability. Advances in analytical techniques, nanobiotechnologies, and monitoring methods are being explored to develop innovative solutions for water conservation and quality improvement.

SourceUniversity of South Florida·JournalJournal of Technology and Innovation·DateAug 25, 2015

One dose or 2? Cholera vaccination strategies

A new modeling study suggests that a single dose of cholera vaccine could be as effective as the traditional two-dose regimen in preventing deaths. The researchers estimate that a one-dose campaign reaching half the population would have averted over 78,000 cases and prevented 738 deaths.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateAug 25, 2015

Something to crow about

Researchers found that New Caledonian crows use a combination of social learning and trial-and-error methods to acquire tool shapes. The birds observe another crow's actions, then mimic the end result, rather than copying specific actions, suggesting an alternative explanation for their cumulative technological culture.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalLearning & Behavior·DateAug 25, 2015

New Yorker cartoons reveal attitudes toward parenting

Researchers analyze New Yorker cartoons from 1925 to 2006 to show changing portrayals of children and child-rearing, with a shift from mixed attitudes to increasingly intense parental involvement. The study highlights the paradox of modern, privileged parenting, where parents may opt out due to high costs associated with childcare.

Quantum diffraction at a breath of nothing

Researchers successfully fabricated stable and large gratings in single layer graphene, enabling the study of massive objects' quantum mechanical nature. The team's achievement reduces material thickness to the ultimate limit, increasing interaction time between molecules and masks.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateAug 25, 2015

Flu remedies help combat E. coli bacteria

Researchers at the University of Zurich have discovered that an overproduction of E. coli bacteria is triggered by the availability of sialic acid, leading to intestinal inflammation. A sialidase inhibitor can prevent excessive E. coli formation and alleviate disease symptoms.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 25, 2015

New Moffitt study finds black women have higher frequency of BRCA mutations than previously reported

A recent study by H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center researchers found a significantly higher frequency of BRCA mutations in young black women with breast cancer, particularly among those under 50. This discovery may contribute to the disparity in aggressive breast cancer rates among black women compared to non-Hispanic white women.