Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for May 11, 2015


Separating rare earth metals with UV light

Researchers at KU Leuven have developed a new method to separate rare earth metals europium and yttrium using UV light. This process recovers over 95% of the europium from a liquid mixture, making it an efficient alternative to traditional methods.

SourceKU Leuven·JournalGreen Chemistry·DateMay 11, 2015

Vying for seats in the C-suite: Marketing and PR's focus is too narrow, Baylor study finds

A Baylor University study found that marketing and PR teams often compete for limited C-suite spots due to perceived similarities in their roles. The research highlights distinct contributions of corporate communications and marketing, suggesting both groups need to build internal relationships to educate colleagues on their value.

SourceBaylor University·JournalJournal of Communication Management·DateMay 11, 2015

Robot pets to rise in an overpopulated world

As the global population is projected to reach 10 billion by 2050, robotic pets are becoming increasingly popular, offering alternatives for those who cannot have live pets. However, concerns arise about the ethics of relying on robots for companionship and potential impacts on human relationships with real animals.

SourceUniversity of Melbourne·JournalFrontiers in Veterinary Science·DateMay 11, 2015

Vineyard habitats help butterflies return

Researchers at Washington State University found that vineyards with native plant habitats have three times the number of butterfly species and four times more butterflies than conventional vineyards. This conservation method helps reduce pesticide usage and promotes a sustainable agricultural industry.

SourceWashington State University·JournalJournal of Insect Conservation·DateMay 11, 2015

Computer simulation accurately replicated real-life trauma outcomes, says Pitt team

A study published in Science Translational Medicine uses a computer simulation to replicate known individual outcomes and predict population results for traumatic injury. The model accurately predicted hospital length of stay and multi-organ dysfunction, but found limitations in extrapolating from single mechanisms to outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateMay 11, 2015

A tale of two roads into protein unfolding

Researchers used nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering to study the effects of high pressure and urea on protein unfolding. They found that while both methods cause proteins to unfold, they do so through different mechanisms, leading to distinct intermediate proteins.

SourcePublicase International·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 11, 2015

Water fleas genetically adapt to climate change

Biologists from KU Leuven found that water flea populations can rapidly adapt to rising temperatures and increased heat wave frequencies. The study, using 'resurrected' eggs, showed a 3.6°C increase in critical temperature for activity.

SourceKU Leuven·JournalNature Climate Change·DateMay 11, 2015

Tortoise approach works best -- even for evolution

A team of researchers found that limiting migrations among populations of bacteria produced better adaptations and allowed for a wider variety of peaks, enabling the organisms to adapt to their environment more effectively. This 'tortoise-hare' pattern highlights the importance of slow and steady evolution in achieving long-term success.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 11, 2015

Healing plants inspire new compounds for psychiatric drugs

Scientists at Northwestern University have synthesized four new chemical compounds with antipsychotic properties using natural products from plant species used in traditional healing practices in Nigeria. These compounds show promise in improving cognitive impairment in animal models, a partially effective treatment for schizophrenia.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateMay 11, 2015

Breaking through the blood-brain barrier

A team of scientists at San Diego State University has identified a molecular process that allows bacteria to bypass the brain's defenses and cause meningitis. The discovery could lead to new treatments for this deadly disease by controlling the expression of a key protein involved in breaking down the blood-brain barrier.

SourceSan Diego State University·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateMay 11, 2015

Ethicists propose solution for US organ shortage crisis in JAMA piece

Medical ethicists propose a solution to the US organ shortage crisis by introducing an 'uncontrolled donation after circulatory determination of death' (UDCDD) approach. This method considers deceased individuals for donation even outside hospitals, allowing families to decide later if they want to preserve organs for potential donation.

Magic wavelengths

Researchers at JQI have discovered special wavelengths, known as 'magic wavelengths', that can trap and excite Rydberg atoms without disturbing them. This breakthrough enables the creation of qubits and interaction of atoms in a useful regime.

SourceJoint Quantum Institute·JournalPhysical Review A·DateMay 11, 2015

Group B Streptococcus breaches the blood-brain-barrier

A new study reveals Group B Streptococcus induces a protein that disrupts junctions between brain cells, increasing permeability and allowing the bacteria to breach the blood-brain barrier. Inhibition of this protein increases survival in zebrafish infected with GBS.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateMay 11, 2015

Dopamine signals the value of delayed rewards

A recent study published in Biological Psychiatry found that dopamine signals the value of delayed rewards, revealing a sophisticated role in guiding decision-making behavior. The research used rodent models to examine the neurotransmitter's dynamic tracking of specific elements of value-based decision making.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateMay 11, 2015

The influence of increased atmospheric CO2 concentration on European trees

A study of European trees found that they have increased their water-use efficiency by 14% for broadleaf and 22% for coniferous species since the 20th century. However, despite this adaptation, forest transpiration rates have still risen by 5% over the same period due to a warmer environment and longer growing seasons.

SourceGFZ GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Helmholtz Centre·JournalNature Climate Change·DateMay 11, 2015

Nurses cut stress 40 percent with relaxation steps at work

A workplace mindfulness-based intervention reduced stress levels of ICU nurses by 40%, according to a new Ohio State study. The 8-week program included mindfulness, gentle stretching, yoga, meditation and music, and significantly decreased salivary alpha-amylase levels, a biomarker of sympathetic nervous system activation.

SourceMediaSource·JournalJournal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine·DateMay 11, 2015

The Lancet: New study reveals 40 million deaths a year go unrecorded

A new study by The Lancet reveals that two-thirds of global deaths and one-third of births go unreported. This lack of data hampers informed policy-making and decision-making, leading to lost opportunities to improve population health. Mobile phone data collection and technology advances are proposed as solutions to crack the problem.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet·DateMay 11, 2015

Noise produces volcanic seismicity, akin to a drumbeat

Researchers found that external noises can induce volcanic activity by inducing stick-slip behavior, causing large-amplitude oscillations and high seismicity. The study used experimental data from Mount St. Helen's eruption to demonstrate the link between noise intensity and drumbeat-type plug movement.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateMay 11, 2015

For children with autism, trips to the dentist just got easier

Researchers from USC and CHLA found that adapting dental environments to be more calming for children with autism spectrum disorder significantly reduced psychological anxiety and pain intensity. The study used sensory adaptations such as soothing music, gentle lighting, and deep-pressure hugs to create a comfortable environment.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·DateMay 11, 2015

Advanced viral gene therapy eradicates prostate cancer in preclinical experiments

Researchers developed a unique approach using microscopic gas bubbles to deliver directly to cancer cells a viral gene therapy in combination with an experimental drug. The treatment strategy used a novel 'cancer terminator virus' and demonstrated enhanced prostate cancer cell death while sparing healthy cells in preclinical experiments.

SourceVirginia Commonwealth University·JournalOncoTargets and Therapy·DateMay 11, 2015

Did ocean acidification cause marine mollusc extinction?

A new study led by University of Southampton researchers suggests that ocean acidification may not have caused the mass extinction of ammonites and other planktonic calcifiers. The research found that the asteroid impact was the primary cause of the extinctions, but not due to ocean acidification levels being too weak.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 11, 2015

Childhood cancer treatment and age influence obesity risk for childhood cancer survivors

A study published by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital found that childhood cancer survivors are 14% more likely to be obese than their peers, with age and treatment also contributing to the increased risk. The research identified genetic variations associated with an increased likelihood of obesity following brain irradiation.

Solving corrosive ocean mystery reveals future climate

Researchers discovered that a 55 million-year-old ocean current, formed by the North Atlantic's shape and changes in ocean currents, caused more severe acidification than other oceans during the Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum. This event may have implications for today's climate sensitivity to increasing carbon dioxide.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature Geoscience·DateMay 11, 2015

Public health approach to reducing traumatic brain injury -- Update from CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched a comprehensive public health approach to reduce the impact of traumatic brain injury (TBI). New research highlights four pillars: improving understanding of TBI's public health burden, reducing incidence through primary prevention, enhancing recognition and management o...

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalJournal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation·DateMay 11, 2015

Increased risk of neuropathy in patients with celiac disease

A nationwide sample of patients in Sweden with biopsy-certified celiac disease were examined to identify the risk of developing neuropathy. The study found a significant association between celiac disease and an increased risk of neuropathy, with absolute risks of 64 per 100,000 person-years for those with celiac disease.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Neurology·DateMay 11, 2015

Acute kidney injury linked to pre-existing kidney health, study finds

Researchers analyzed over 1.3 million patient records to find that mildly abnormal results on kidney function tests are the strongest risk factor for acute kidney injury. Physicians can identify high-risk patients by paying close attention to common blood and urine tests for kidney function, potentially preventing the devastating injury.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Kidney Diseases·DateMay 11, 2015

Space lab to elucidate how liquid cocktails mix

Experimental data from zero-gravity experiments on the International Space Station provides insights into thermodiffusion effects in ternary liquid mixtures. The results, published in the European Physical Journal E, offer a benchmark for future theoretical and numerical models.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateMay 11, 2015

Brain cells capable of 'early-career' switch

Researchers found that inactivating Lhx2 in mature neurons can reprogram them to process different senses, expanding one region at the expense of another. This discovery provides proof of brain plasticity and may lead to new therapeutic approaches for treating human disorders such as autism.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 11, 2015

A new chapter in Earth history

A team of scientists proposes using nuclear weapons fallout to mark the beginning of a new geological age, the Anthropocene. The proposal is based on the significant geochemical signatures left by human activities in sediments accumulating across the planet.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalBulletin of the Atomic Scientists·DateMay 11, 2015

UK-China collaboration for data sharing in metabolomics

A UK-China consortium, funded by the BBSRC, will host training workshops to support scientists in managing and sharing their metabolomics data and analyses. The partnership, involving EMBL-EBI, universities, and GigaScience, aims to improve data sharing in metabolomics, promoting better quality data and efficient research.

SourceGigaScience·JournalGigaScience·DateMay 11, 2015

Study shows increased cardiorespiratory fitness may delay onset of high cholesterol

A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness can delay the onset of high cholesterol by up to 15 years. Men with lower fitness levels were more likely to develop high cholesterol in their early 30s, while those with higher fitness did not experience this un...

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateMay 11, 2015

First beef with the goodness of fish

Researchers have successfully introduced a gene into foetal cells from Luxi Yellow cattle to increase the levels of beneficial omega-3 oils in beef. The study found that introducing the fat1 gene resulted in over five times higher levels of these fatty acids.

SourceSpringer·JournalBiotechnology Letters·DateMay 11, 2015