Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for February 19, 2015


New brain mapping reveals unknown cell types

Scientists at Karolinska Institutet have created a detailed map of cortical cell types and the genes active within them using single-cell sequencing. They identified 47 different kinds of cells, including hitherto unknown types, which can help shed more light on diseases like multiple sclerosis.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalScience·DateFeb 19, 2015

Mobile app with evidence-based decision support diagnoses more obesity, smoking, and depression, Columbia Nursing study finds

A mobile app with decision support features significantly increased diagnosis rates for tobacco use, adult and pediatric depression, and obesity among registered nurses. The app prompted clinicians to follow evidence-based guidelines and encouraged detailed conversations with patients about their health.

SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·JournalThe Journal for Nurse Practitioners·DateFeb 19, 2015

Severe asthma: Gallopamil confirmed as a therapeutic approach

Researchers from INSERM have demonstrated gallopamil's clinical efficacy in treating severe asthma by reducing bronchial smooth muscle mass and airway obstruction. The study involved 31 patients with severe asthma, who showed significant improvements in BSM thickness and asthma attacks after treatment.

SourceINSERM (Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale)·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateFeb 19, 2015

Anti-inflammatory drug counters obesity in mice

A study led by Tokyo Medical University researcher Toshihiro Nakajima found that an anti-inflammatory drug can counteract obesity in mice by regulating mitochondrial biogenesis and fatty acid breakdown. The drug, LS-102, inhibits the Synoviolin gene, leading to increased energy control pathways.

SourceEMBO·JournalThe EMBO Journal·DateFeb 19, 2015

Perfect colors, captured with one ultra-thin lens

Researchers create an ultra-thin, completely flat optical component made of glass substrate and silicon antennas that compensates for wavelength differences. This allows for consistent effects like deflecting beams of different colors by the same angle or focusing those colors on a single spot.

SourceHarvard University·JournalScience·DateFeb 19, 2015

Fighting decline of pollinators in Europe

Pollinator decline threatens European food security and ecosystem diversity. The STEP project has mapped the climatic risk of European bumblebees, revealing that many species are at high risk under climate change scenarios.

SourcePensoft Publishers·JournalBIORISK – Biodiversity and Ecosystem Risk Assessment·DateFeb 19, 2015

Bovine TB vaccinations and minimizing 'false positives'

To make bovine TB vaccination viable, researchers recommend diagnostic tests must achieve high specificity to avoid increasing restrictions and financial burden. Achieving a specificity of greater than 99.85% is necessary to see benefits of vaccination.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateFeb 19, 2015

Editorial issues a call to action for end-of-life care of older adults in nursing homes

The editorial highlights the need for bold action to improve end-of-life care in nursing homes, focusing on symptom control, advance care planning, and high-quality palliative care. Nursing home providers are urged to prioritize training staff in these areas to ensure better support for patients and their families near the end of life.

SourceIndiana University·JournalJournal of the American Medical Directors Association·DateFeb 19, 2015

Out of Africa: Did humans migrate quickly and all-at-once or in phases based on weather?

Researchers suggest that human dispersal into southern Asia via Arabia was linked to changing climate and environmental conditions, with increased rainfall supporting populations. The Al Sibetah alluvial fan sequence provides a unique record of landscape change in southeast Arabia, revealing multiple humid episodes during glacial periods.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeology·DateFeb 19, 2015

Evolving a bigger brain with human DNA

Researchers found a key difference in human and chimpanzee DNA that boosts brain size in mouse embryos. This discovery sheds light on the genetic basis of human brain evolution and may help explain why humans have unique capabilities compared to chimps.

SourceDuke University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateFeb 19, 2015

Joslin researchers find drugs are effective for diabetic macular edema in new trial

A clinical trial found that all three anti-VEGF drugs were effective in improving vision and preventing vision loss in patients with diabetic macular edema. Aflibercept showed more significant visual gains in patients with worse vision at the start of the trial, providing robust data for clinicians to guide treatment decisions.

SourceJoslin Diabetes Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateFeb 19, 2015

New nanogel for drug delivery

A new type of self-healing hydrogel has been developed by MIT chemical engineers that can carry one or two drugs at a time. The gel consists of a mesh network made of nanoparticles and polymers that can be injected through a syringe and released over several days, targeting specific tissues and allowing for long-term drug delivery.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 19, 2015

Combination of imaging methods improves diagnostics

Researchers at Helmholtz Zentrum München developed an approach to quantify gadolinium-based contrast agents in tissue using MALDI-MS imaging, correlating it with MRI images. This combination improves diagnostic value by detecting tissue-related kinetics of contrast agents used in myocardial infarction models.

Cattle damage to riverbanks can be undone

A study published in Springer's Environmental Management journal found that removing grazing cattle from a wildlife refuge in Oregon has led to significant rehabilitation of the natural environment. The removal of cattle has resulted in an increase in woody riparian vegetation, reduction in erosion, and improved water quality.

SourceSpringer·JournalEnvironmental Management·DateFeb 19, 2015

Statins may not lower Parkinson's risk

A recent study suggests that statins may not protect against Parkinson's disease, despite previous reports of a potential link. The research found no evidence that statin use lowered the risk of PD, and may even increase it over time.

SourcePenn State·JournalMovement Disorders·DateFeb 19, 2015

Gene may help reduce GM contamination

Researchers at the University of Guelph identified a gene that can make certain plants self-pollinate, reducing the risk of genetically modified crop contamination. The discovery could also benefit perfume-makers by allowing for more control over fragrance production.

SourceUniversity of Guelph·JournalBMC Biology·DateFeb 19, 2015

Smarter multicore chips

Researchers at MIT developed a system that cleverly distributes data around multicore chips' memory banks, improving execution times by 18 percent on average while increasing energy efficiency. In simulations involving a 64-core chip, the system increased computational speeds by 46 percent while reducing power consumption by 36 percent.

Sickness and health between men and women

A study by Washington State University researchers found that women are more impacted by illness than men, unless multiple symptoms are present. Women with specific personality types, such as high agreeableness or low conscientiousness, may experience less impact from mental illness due to their social networks and coping mechanisms.

SourceWashington State University·JournalJournal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics·DateFeb 19, 2015

Why are kidney patients starting dialysis sooner?

A recent study found that patients with advanced kidney disease have been initiating dialysis progressively earlier over time. Despite no measurable differences in patient sickness or reasons for dialysis, the trend suggests a shift towards embracing higher levels of kidney function as acceptable for dialysis initiation.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateFeb 19, 2015

New NIST tools to help boost wireless channel frequencies and capacity

Researchers at NIST are developing measurement tools for channels that could offer more than 1,000 times the bandwidth of today's cell phone systems. The tools will enable the development of innovative millimeter-wave wireless technologies and support the expected increases in demand for wireless capacity.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalIEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques·DateFeb 19, 2015