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Science News for September 8, 2015


Pitt researcher lands the cover of Developmental Cell by uncovering an evolutionary secret

A Pitt researcher used gene regulatory networks to uncover the origins of a recently evolved structure in male fruit flies, finding that it was created by reusing existing networks during development. This discovery sheds light on how complex animal forms arose and challenges the idea that new structures must be encoded by new genes.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateSep 8, 2015

Should countries honor their climate debts?

A new study reveals countries with higher per-capita CO2 emissions, like the US and Russia, have accumulated large carbon debts. India is the largest creditor, while Brazil and Indonesia switch from being creditors to debtors due to deforestation and agriculture.

SourceConcordia University·JournalNature Climate Change·DateSep 8, 2015

Pitt researchers developing a novel way to identify pathogens

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a new method for identifying pathogens using spectroscopy and protein hydrogels. This technique allows for rapid detection and identification of specific pathogens, enabling targeted antibiotic treatment and reducing the risk of misdiagnosis. The broader implications of this wo...

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateSep 8, 2015

Earthquake baseline set to inform future fracking

A new study published in Marine and Petroleum Geology has established a national baseline for earthquakes caused by human activity in the UK. Since 1999, an average of at least three onshore earthquakes per year with local magnitude greater than or equal to 1.5 have been linked to anthropogenic activities.

SourceNewcastle University·JournalMarine and Petroleum Geology·DateSep 8, 2015

Blood and teeth samples accurately predict a criminal's age

Forensic examiners can use blood or teeth samples to estimate an individual's age with great accuracy, helping track down criminals or identify human remains. Researchers at KU Leuven developed a test based on four age-associated DNA methylation markers, achieving margins of error of 3.75 years for blood and 4.86 years for teeth.

SourceKU Leuven·JournalEpigenetics·DateSep 8, 2015

Shouldering the burden of evolution

Researchers at UC San Francisco show that early humans' tool use led to changes in their shoulders, which helped the emergence of human-specific traits like high-speed throwing. The study's findings suggest that the common ancestor of modern humans and African apes looked more like a chimp or gorilla.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 8, 2015

Arthritis may be a major driver of poverty

Women with arthritis face a 87% higher risk of multidimensional poverty compared to nonarthritic females. Arthritis also affects men, increasing their poverty risk by 22% and 29% for multidimensional poverty, respectively.

SourceWiley·JournalArthritis & Rheumatology·DateSep 8, 2015

New drug-like compounds may improve odds of men battling prostate cancer, researchers find

Researchers have found three new drug-like compounds that target a protein responsible for chemotherapy resistance in cancers, offering hope for improved treatment options. The compounds have shown promise in re-sensitizing resistant cancer cells to chemotherapy, improving the odds of survival for prostate cancer patients.

SourceSouthern Methodist University·JournalPharmacology Research & Perspectives·DateSep 8, 2015

Nano-dunes with the ion beam

The researchers used broad ion beams to create nanostructured arrays on a gallium arsenide wafer, resulting in well-defined structures reminiscent of sand dunes. The process involves heating the sample during ion bombardment and compensating for missing atom bonds by forming pairs of gallium atoms.

Realizing carbon nanotube integrated circuits

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a solution to create stable carbon nanotube-based integrated circuits using newly designed encapsulation layers. These layers protect the sensitive devices from environmental degradation, enabling reliable operation for years or even decades.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateSep 8, 2015

Changing behavior through synaptic engineering

Scientists have discovered a novel approach to study neural circuits that change behavior, using Caenorhabditis elegans worms. By flipping the sign of a synapse, researchers were able to completely reverse behavior, suggesting that neural wiring is remarkably stable and allows for changes in behavior.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateSep 8, 2015

Artificial 'plants' could fuel the future

Researchers have created artificial plants that can produce methane and butanol using semiconducting nanowires and bacteria. This technology has the potential to replace fossil fuels with a sustainable and efficient alternative.

SourceThe Kavli Foundation·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 8, 2015

Freebies won't bribe most bloggers into positive reviews

Researchers found that bloggers who accepted compensation tend to feel more empowered in their relationships with companies, rather than feeling indebted. However, the guidelines have not changed how bloggers acknowledge compensation, and many simply don't report accepting free products.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Communication Management·DateSep 8, 2015

Stem cell-derived 'mini-brains' reveal potential drug treatment for rare disorder

Researchers have identified a histone deacetylase inhibitor that reverses MECP2 alterations in mutant neurons, offering hope for treating the devastating neurological disorder. The breakthrough uses stem cell-derived 'mini-brains' to screen potential drug libraries, providing an efficient method for finding effective treatments.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·DateSep 8, 2015

Peak emissions at London station worse than road-side equivalents

A study published in Environmental Research Letters found that peak-time emissions from diesel trains at London's Paddington Station exceeded European air quality recommendations and were higher than nearby roadsides on most days. The station's semi-enclosed design contributed to elevated concentrations of particulate matter, nitrogen ...

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateSep 8, 2015

Study identifies psychological traits associated with homophobia

A new study found that psychoticism and immature defense mechanisms are risk factors for homophobia, while depression and neurotic defense mechanisms lower the risk. The study included 560 Italian university students and aims to address the long-standing debate about whether homosexuality is a disease.

SourceWiley·JournalThe Journal of Sexual Medicine·DateSep 8, 2015

Parasite vs. invader: New endoparasitoid wasp can save the Dominican Republic economy

Scientists have discovered a new parasitoid wasp species that can kill up to 25% of the Asian fly larvae, a widely spread invasive pest corrupting large parts of the pigeon pea crops. This natural enemy has the potential to be a biocontrol agent, offering a promising solution for the Dominican Republic's economic losses estimated at 76%.

SourcePensoft Publishers·JournalJournal of Hymenoptera Research·DateSep 8, 2015

Children overcoming adversity

Research suggests that children who focus on their possible future selves and have strategies to attain these possibilities perform better academically and emotionally. In contrast, children who dwell on difficulties without planning for the future experience a negative impact on their optimism and fatalism.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalJournal of Adolescence·DateSep 8, 2015

Advanced treatment and prognosis data available for TNM classification

The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer has released new data for the TNM classification of lung cancer, which will inform the Eighth Edition of the staging manual. The new database includes 94,708 patients diagnosed worldwide from 1999-2010 and analyzes tumor size, lymph node involvement, and metastatic status.

SourceInternational Association for the Study of Lung Cancer·JournalJournal of Thoracic Oncology·DateSep 8, 2015

Outcomes improve for extremely preterm infants

Survival rates for extremely preterm infants have increased significantly over the past 20 years, with improvements in maternal/neonatal care leading to reduced complications and mortality. The study found that survival without major complications increased approximately 2 percent per year for infants at 25 to 28 weeks' gestation.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateSep 8, 2015

Resin may provide medicine against epilepsy

Resin acids have been found to be effective in treating epilepsy by opening potassium channels and reducing nerve activity. The substances, which are fat-soluble and electrically charged, were synthesized from a natural molecule and tested on frog eggs and mice before patent applications were submitted.

SourceLinköping University·JournalScientific Reports·DateSep 8, 2015

The Achilles' heel of HI virus

Scientists have found that the cGAS sensor can detect single-stranded DNA, including guanosines, which triggers a strong immune response. The HI virus has evolved to eliminate guanosines from its genetic material, partially avoiding detection by the cell.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature Immunology·DateSep 8, 2015

Teens are not always irrational

A new Duke University study reveals that adolescents aged 10 to 16 can be more analytical in their economic choices than slightly older young adults. Researchers found that teens carefully weigh decisions, using cost-benefit analysis skills, while young adults rely on simple rules.

SourceDuke University·JournalCognitive Development·DateSep 8, 2015

Global health studies in September Health Affairs

Studies in the September Health Affairs issue reveal declining global mortality rates for heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers, but increasing trends in diabetes, liver cancer, respiratory disease, and lung cancer deaths, particularly among women and in low- and middle-income countries.

SourceThe Reis Group·JournalHealth Affairs·DateSep 8, 2015

Infant learning: Is more really better?

Researchers found that preverbal infants can learn basic rules through audio-visual pairs only when stimuli match each other's nature. The study suggests that unified sensory input is crucial for effective learning in infancy.

SourceWiley·JournalDevelopmental Science·DateSep 8, 2015

Out of the fire, into the light

A groundbreaking Australian pilot project, led by Martina McGrath, will provide a unique, non-clinical approach to care for suicidal persons. The Suicide Attempt Survivors Support Group will inject hope, connectedness, inclusion, and purpose into the lives of those struggling with suicidal thoughts.

Japanese paper art inspires new 3-D fabrication method

Researchers at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois have developed a new assembly method that uses strategic 'Kirigami cuts' to create complex 3D structures out of silicon and other materials. The technique enables the production of mostly closed 3D shapes with limited ability to achieve spatially extended devices.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 8, 2015

Thinking people are born fat or born thin is bad for your health

A recent study published in Health Education and Behavior found that individuals who believe their weight is determined by DNA tend to make unhealthy food choices and engage in less exercise as they age. This association was observed across both men and women, with the relationship differing by age.

SourceSAGE·JournalHealth Education & Behavior·DateSep 8, 2015

Fine particulate matter associated with slight increased mortality in Houston

Research from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston found a slight increase in mortality risk associated with fine particulate matter in the air. The study analyzed PM2.5 components and found that ammonium, nitrate, sulfate, and vanadium were most strongly linked to increased mortality risk, especially during winter ...

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston·JournalThe Science of The Total Environment·DateSep 8, 2015

Keeping older muscles strong

Researchers at the University of Iowa have identified a protein that causes age-related muscle weakness and loss. They also discovered two natural compounds, found in apples and green tomatoes, which reduce this protein's activity and can restore muscle mass and strength.

SourceUniversity of Iowa Health Care·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateSep 8, 2015

Ants on the march in non-native conifer forests

A species of ant, the northern hairy wood ant (Formica lugubris), is thriving in newly formed coniferous forests in the North York Moors National Park. The ant's population has expanded into these plantations, suggesting they provide a suitable habitat for this forest specialist species.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalForest Ecology and Management·DateSep 8, 2015

HIV self-testing (HIVST) found safe, acceptable, and accurate

A community-based prospective study in Blantyre, Malawi found that HIV self-testing (HIVST) was widely accepted and accurate, with 94.6% of participants reporting high satisfaction. The study also showed that HIVST led to a low incidence of partner violence and suicides, and agreed with repeat HTC results in 99.4% of cases.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateSep 8, 2015