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Science News for May 4, 2015


From brittle to plastic in 1 breath

Researchers at Rice University have found ways to make 2D molybdenum disulfide exhibit superplasticity by manipulating its gas environment, allowing it to deform without breaking. This breakthrough opens the possibility of tailoring the plastic properties of these materials for specific applications.

SourceRice University·JournalNano Letters·DateMay 4, 2015

India drift

MIT researchers explain India's rapid move toward Eurasia 80 million years ago by the combination of two subduction zones. The team found relics of what may have been two subduction zones in rocks from the Himalayan region, which led them to develop a model for a double subduction system.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Geoscience·DateMay 4, 2015

Study finds inhibitor for COPD lung destruction

Researchers at Brown and Yale implicates a specific mitochondrial protein, NLRX1, in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from exposure to cigarette smoke. The study shows that suppression of NLRX1 is a major cigarette-induced signature of lung destruction.

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateMay 4, 2015

Malarial parasites dodge the kill

Researchers have identified a way for malaria parasites to dodge anti-malarial drugs, surviving inside immature red blood cells and remaining sensitive to certain treatments. This finding may help guide future research and lead to the development of new anti-malarial drugs for refractory patients.

SourceRockefeller University Press·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateMay 4, 2015

Lab test commonly used to assess water toxicity

Researchers found that H. azteca from polluted sites are less sensitive to pyrethroid insecticides than lab-grown ones. This suggests standard testing methods may not accurately reflect environmental health

SourceWiley·JournalEnvironmental Toxicology and Chemistry·DateMay 4, 2015

Real stereotypes continue to exist in virtual worlds

Researchers found that women in online games received less help from fellow players when operating unattractive avatars or male avatars. The study supports the idea that gender and appearance stereotypes follow us into virtual environments.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media·DateMay 4, 2015

Researchers 'un-can' the HIV virus

A new approach to fighting HIV has been discovered by researchers at the University of Montreal, who identified a way to use a tiny molecule to 'open up' the virus and expose its vulnerable parts. This breakthrough could lead to the design of a vaccine to prevent transmission and potentially one day eradicate the virus.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 4, 2015

Carrying a little extra weight decreases mortality from type 2 diabetes

Research found that patients with type 2 diabetes who are overweight but not obese live longer than those who are underweight or normal-weight. The 'obesity paradox' suggests that excess weight may be beneficial for survival in these patients, contrary to previous expectations. Meanwhile, daily low-molecular-weight heparin injections w...

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateMay 4, 2015

An unexpected role for calcium in controlling inflammation during chronic lung infection

Researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center identified a crucial role for calcium signaling in controlling inflammation during chronic lung infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Calcium channels play a key role in shutting down the immune response and preventing injurious inflammation.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateMay 4, 2015

Pitch for support, in Spanish and offering recognition, scores for nonprofit

A University of Oregon study found that Spanish-speaking residents responded at a 32-percent higher rate than English-speaking residents when receiving letters written in their primary language. The study suggests that communicating with supporters in a culturally competent way can lead to increased response rates and potentially more ...

SourceUniversity of Oregon·JournalNonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly·DateMay 4, 2015

Are scare tactics off the table for public health campaigns targeting HIV?

Scholars at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health explore the implications of fear-based campaigns in public health, highlighting successes and failures. While fear-based campaigns have been effective in reducing smoking rates, they may be counterproductive for HIV prevention, stigmatizing affected populations.

Emergency department opioid prescribing

A new study by Brigham and Women's Hospital found that emergency physicians prescribe opioids with caution, aligning with short-term use goals and limiting prescriptions to 3-5 days. The majority of opioid prescriptions had a low pill count and were immediate-release formulations.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalAnnals of Emergency Medicine·DateMay 4, 2015

Patients with AIDS at increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration

A new study found that patients with AIDS have a four-fold increase in the risk of developing intermediate-stage age-related macular degeneration, compared to those without HIV. The study suggests that chronic immune activation and systemic inflammation may contribute to this increased risk.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Ophthalmology·DateMay 4, 2015

'Performance enhancing' drugs decrease performance

Research from the University of Adelaide analyzed sporting records from 1886 to 2012 and found that doping era times, distances, and results did not improve as expected. The study suggests that doping may be more widespread than thought and has a detrimental effect on performance in some areas.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalJournal of Human Sport and Exercise·DateMay 4, 2015

Electronic health records may not improve outcomes in ischemic stroke patients

A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that electronic health records (EHRs) did not demonstrate better quality of care or clinical outcomes for ischemic stroke patients. Despite their potential benefits, EHRs were associated with only a slightly lower risk of prolonged hospital stays.

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateMay 4, 2015

INFORMS journal study finds double-digit growth for firms creating own online communities

A new study published in Marketing Science finds that firms creating their own brand-specific online communities experience significant revenue growth, with social engagement being a key driver. The study reveals that enabling customer social interactions can generate substantial direct revenue benefits to the firm.

Rumors have it

A study by MIT researcher Adam Berinsky found that correcting political rumors can sometimes increase their strength. Attempts to debunk myths often rely on partisan sources, which can lead to increased belief in the myth. The study suggests that finding neutral sources of information is crucial for combating political misinformation.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalBritish Journal of Political Science·DateMay 4, 2015

Combining computer vision and brain computer interface for faster mine detection

Computer scientists developed a new method combining computer vision algorithms and brain-computer interface to detect mines in sonar images, outperforming existing methods. The system uses classifiers to capture changes in pixel intensity and improves accuracy by detecting 99.5% of true positives and reducing false positives.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalIEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering·DateMay 4, 2015

Joining the genomic dots

A new technique called Promoter Capture Hi-C was used to connect regulatory elements in the mouse and human genomes, providing insight into how genes are regulated. The analysis identified long-range interactions between promoters and enhancers, shedding light on the genetic basis of disease.

SourceBabraham Institute·JournalNature Genetics·DateMay 4, 2015

Recurrence of prostate cancer detected earlier with innovative PSMA-ligand PET/CT

A recent study found that the Ga-68-PSMA-ligand PET/CT detected a large number of positive findings in patients with biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy, particularly at low PSA-values. The tracer's higher detection rates compared to other imaging methods suggest an early detection advantage for further clinical management.

SourceSociety of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·JournalJournal of Nuclear Medicine·DateMay 4, 2015

Scientists reconcile three unrelated theories of schizophrenia

Researchers have reconciled three unrelated hypotheses about schizophrenia's causes by studying mice with a genetic deletion. The findings suggest that faulty neural connections, excess dopamine, and brain pruning are linked to the disease. The study aims to develop treatment strategies targeting these underlying causes.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateMay 4, 2015