Labslink Research News

1 in 10 teens using 'study drugs,' but parents aren't paying attention

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:13:00 PDT

As high schoolers prepare for final exams, teens nationwide may be tempted to use a “study drug” – a prescription stimulant or amphetamine – to gain an academic edge. But a new University of Michigan poll shows only one in 100 parents of teens 13-17 years old believes that their teen has used a study drug.......> Full story

New in GEOLOGY: Gems, Darwin, Mars, Hemp, Snowball Earth, a Siberian Impact Crater, and More

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:11:30 PDT

New Geology articles posted online ahead of print 9 and 16 May 2013 cover a wide swath of geoscience subdisciplines, including minerals exploration, archaeology, planetary geology, tectonics, oceanography, geophysics, and paleobotany. Locations studied include Siberia; the Sumatran subduction margin; the Monte Arsiccio mine at Alpi Apuane, Italy; Ukraine; Mars; and the Southeastern U.S. Atlantic Margin. Brief highlights follow:.......> Full story

Amazon River exhales virtually all carbon taken up by rain forest

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:09:02 PDT

The Amazon rain forest, popularly known as the lungs of the planet, inhales carbon dioxide as it exudes oxygen. Plants use carbon dioxide from the air to grow parts that eventually fall to the ground to decompose or get washed away by the region’s plentiful rainfall........> Full story

U of M researchers develop model for better testing, targeting of MPNST

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:07:45 PDT

Researchers from the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, and the University’s Brain Tumor Program, have developed a new mouse model of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) that allow them to discover new genes and gene pathways driving this type of cancer........> Full story

Nature: X-ray tomography on a living frog embryo

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:32:03 PDT

X-ray diffraction enables high-resolution imaging of soft tissues,” explains Ralf Hofmann, one author of the study and physicist at KIT. “In our work, we did not only manage to resolve individual cells and parts of their structure, but we could also analyze single cell migration as well as the movement of cellular networks.......> Full story

SUMO wrestling cells reveal new protective mechanism target for stroke

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:29:19 PDT

Post-translational modification of substrate proteins by the covalent attachment of small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) proteins regulates multiple cellular pathways, ranging from nuclear organization and transcriptional regulation to membrane protein trafficking and stability.......> Full story

Study identifies new approach to improving treatment for MS and other conditions

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:26:29 PDT

Working with lab mice models of multiple sclerosis (MS), UC Davis scientists have detected a novel molecular target for the design of drugs that could be safer and more effective than current FDA-approved medications against MS........> Full story

Researchers say they are shocked by new statistics on head injuries among people who are homeless

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:13:17 PDT

Men who are heavy drinkers and homeless for long periods of time have 400 times the number of head injuries as the general population, according to a new study by researchers who said they were shocked by their findings........> Full story

What role do processing bodies play in cell survival and protection against viral infection?

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:10:21 PDT

As scientists learn more about processing bodies (PBs), granules present within normal cells, they are unraveling the complex role PBs play in maintaining cellular homeostasis by regulating RNA metabolism and cell signaling. Emerging research is revealing how virus infection alters PBs to enhance viral replication and how, in turn, PBs are able respond and limit a virus's ability to reproduce. This novel mechanism allows PBs to contribute to the body's immune defenses, as described in an article.......> Full story

DNA-guided assembly yields novel ribbon-like nanostructures

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:09:04 PDT

Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have discovered that DNA "linker" strands coax nano-sized rods to line up in way unlike any other spontaneous arrangement of rod-shaped objects. The arrangement—with the rods forming "rungs".......>Full story

Nanotechnology could help fight diabetes

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:06:40 PDT

Injectable nanoparticles developed at MIT may someday eliminate the need for patients with Type 1 diabetes to constantly monitor their blood-sugar levels and inject themselves with insulin.......> Full story

Study finds plasmin -- delivered through a bubble -- more effective than tPA in busting clots

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:39:11 PDT

A new study from the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine has found that, when delivered via ultrasound, the natural enzyme plasmin is more effective at dissolving stroke-causing clots than the standard of care, recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA)........> Full story

Stanford ultraresponsive magnetic nanoscavengers for next generation water purification

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:35:40 PDT

There is an error in the URL you entered into your browser. (Please check the spelling and try again.)......> Full story

Can breastfeeding protect against ADHD?

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:21:46 PDT

Breastfeeding has a positive impact on the physical and mental development of infants. A new study suggests that breastfeeding may protect against the development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) later in childhood. The study is reported in Breastfeeding Medicine.......> Full story

Human disease leptospirosis identified in new species, the banded mongoose, in Africa

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:20:32 PDT

The newest public health threat in Africa, scientists have found, is coming from a previously unknown source: the banded mongoose........> Full story

Male testosterone levels increase when victorious in competition against rivals, but not friends

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:19:01 PDT

Sporting events can bring a community together, such as when the Louisville Cardinals won the NCAA championship and University of Louisville campus was filled with camaraderie. They also can fuel bitter rivalries, such as the long-standing animosity between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs. A new University of Missouri study has found that testosterone levels during group competition are modulated depending on the relationships among the competitors and may be related to the formation of alliances in warfare........> Full story

Study IDs key protein for cell death

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:17:35 PDT

When cells suffer too much DNA damage, they are usually forced to undergo programmed cell death, or apoptosis. However, cancer cells often ignore these signals, flourishing even after chemotherapy drugs have ravaged their DNA........> Full story

Massage therapy shown to improve stress response in preterm infants

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:15:56 PDT

It seems that even for the smallest of people, a gentle massage may be beneficial. Newborn intensive care units (NICUs) are stressful environments for preterm infants; mechanical ventilation, medical procedures, caregiving activities and maternal separation create these stressful conditions........> Full story

Study identifies possible new acute leukemia marker, treatment target

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:27:12 PDT

A study has identified microRNA-155 as a new independent prognostic marker and treatment target in patients with acute myeloid leukemia that has normal-looking chromosomes under the microscope (that is, cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia, or CN-AML)........> Full story

Seabird bones reveal changes in open-ocean food chain

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:23:23 PDT

A research team, led by Michigan State University and Smithsonian Institution scientists, analyzed the bones of Hawaiian petrels – birds that spend the majority of their lives foraging the open waters of the Pacific. They found that the substantial change in petrels’ eating habits, eating prey that are lower rather than higher in the food chain, coincides with the growth of industrialized fishing.......> Full story

After the breakup in a digital world: Purging Facebook of painful memories

Thu, 09 May 2013 16:19:28 PDT

The era is long gone when a romantic breakup meant ripped-up photos and burned love letters. Today, digital photos and emails can be quickly deleted but the proliferation of social media has made forgetting a bigger chore........> Full story

Loss of eastern hemlock will affect forest water use

Thu, 09 May 2013 16:16:19 PDT

The loss of eastern hemlock from forests in the Southern Appalachian region of the United States could permanently change the area’s hydrologic cycle, reports a new study by U.S. Forest Service scientists at the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory (Coweeta) located in Otto, North Carolina, published online in the journal Ecological Applications and available now in preprint format........> Full story

Cannibal tadpoles key to understanding digestive evolution

Wed, 08 May 2013 16:42:39 PDT

A carnivorous, cannibalistic tadpole may play a role in understanding the evolution and development of digestive organs, according to research from North Carolina State University. These findings may also shed light on universal rules of organ development that could lead to better diagnosis and prevention of intestinal birth defects.......> Full story

Study finds PCB concentrations same in urban and rural areas

Wed, 08 May 2013 16:41:15 PDT

Since polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are produced through industrial processes or activities, it is assumed that people living in industrial cities will have higher concentrations of these toxic chemicals in their blood than people in rural communities........> Full story

Study of new 'bone-head' hints at higher diversity of small dinosaurs

Tue, 07 May 2013 16:40:15 PDT

Acrotholus means "high dome," referring to its dome-shaped skull, which is composed of solid bone over 10 centimeters (two inches) thick. The name Acrotholus audeti also honors Alberta rancher Roy Audet, on whose land the best specimen was discovered in 2008. Acrotholus walked on two legs and had a greatly thickened, domed skull above its eyes, which was used for display to other members of its species, and may have also been used in head-butting contests. Acrotholus lived about 85 million years ago.......> Full story

Combining strategies speeds the work of enzymes

Tue, 07 May 2013 16:35:19 PDT

Enzymes could break down cell walls faster – leading to less expensive biofuels for transportation – if two enzyme systems are brought together in an industrial setting, new research by the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory suggests........> Full story

Agencies should use common approach to evaluate risks pesticides pose to endangered species

Mon, 06 May 2013 16:25:56 PDT

When determining the potential effects pesticides could pose to endangered or threatened species, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) should use a common scientific approach, says a new report from the National Research Council. Specifically, the agencies should use a risk assessment approach that addresses problem formulation, exposure analysis, effects analysis, and risk characterization........> Full story

Economics influence fertility rates more than other factors

Mon, 06 May 2013 16:24:46 PDT

The world population could top 8 billion in the year 2023 if current growth rates remain constant, according to United Nations figures. However, if global fertility rates slow more quickly than expected, there could be up to half a billion fewer mouths to feed on Earth in 2023. Based on a recent study by a University of Missouri anthropologist.......> Full story

Wits researcher names juvenile specimen of a new species of dinosaur in Western China

Mon, 06 May 2013 16:21:36 PDT

A new species of theropod, or meat-eating dinosaur, an ancient ancestor of today’s birds, has been named by newly appointed Wits Evolutionary Studies Institute Senior Researcher Dr. Jonah Choiniere and a team of international researchers........> Full story

Researchers develop unique method for creating uniform nanoparticles

Mon, 06 May 2013 16:20:29 PDT

University of Illinois researchers have developed a new way to produce highly uniform nanocrystals used for both fundamental and applied nanotechnology projects.......> Full story

Unusual comparison nets new sleep loss marker

Fri, 03 May 2013 18:00:22 PDT

For years, Paul Shaw, PhD, a researcher at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has used what he learns in fruit flies to look for markers of sleep loss in humans.........> Full story

George Washington University biologist discovers new dinosaur in China

Fri, 03 May 2013 17:57:35 PDT

Fossil remains found by a George Washington University biologist in northwestern China have been identified as a new species of small theropod, or meat-eating, dinosaur........> Full story

Fires in Eastern Russia

Fri, 03 May 2013 17:56:15 PDT

Fires in eastern Russia are commonplace at this time of year. Both wildfires and those deliberately set for agricultural purposes are often seen in the Amur region of Russia. This image from the Aqua satellite shows a plethora of fires burning in eastern Russia on May 03, 2013........> Full story

Heart cells change stem cell behavior

Thu, 02 May 2013 16:14:19 PDT

Stem cells drawn from amniotic fluid show promise for tissue engineering, but it’s important to know what they can and cannot do. A new study by researchers at Rice University and Texas Children’s Hospital has shown that these stem cells can communicate with mature heart cells and form electrical couplings with each other similar to those found in heart tissue. But these electrical connections alone do not prompt amniotic cells to become cardiac cells........> Full story

Study looks at muscle adaptation of transition to minimalist running

Thu, 02 May 2013 16:12:50 PDT

For tens of thousands of years, humans ran on bare feet. Then we developed an assortment of specialized shoes, including – particularly since the 1960s – a seemingly limitless variety of running shoes. Despite the perceived advantages of foot protection, some runners in recent years have returned to barefoot running, believing it is a more natural way to run and therefore less injurious to the feet and legs.........> Full story

New molecule heralds hope for muscular dystrophy treatment

Wed, 01 May 2013 16:35:26 PDT

There’s hope for patients with myotonic dystrophy. A new small molecule developed by researchers at the University of Illinois has been shown to break up the protein-RNA clusters that cause the disease in living human cells, an important first step toward developing a pharmaceutical treatment for the as-yet untreatable disease.........> Full story

Health defects found in fish exposed to Deepwater Horizon oil spill

Wed, 01 May 2013 16:34:10 PDT

Crude oil toxicity continued to sicken a sentinel Gulf Coast fish species for at least more than a year after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, according to new findings from a research team that includes a University of California, Davis, scientist........> Full story

PTSD research: Distinct gene activity patterns from childhood abuse

Wed, 01 May 2013 16:31:28 PDT

A study of adult civilians with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) has shown that individuals with a history of childhood abuse have distinct, profound changes in gene activity patterns, compared to adults with PTSD but without a history of child abuse.......> Full story

Low vitamin D levels a risk factor for pneumonia

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:27:37 PDT

A University of Eastern Finland study showed that low serum vitamin D levels are a risk factor for pneumonia. The risk of contracting pneumonia was more than 2.5 times greater in subjects with the lowest vitamin D levels than in subjects with high vitamin D levels. The results were published in Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.........> Full story

Spanish lake found with the oldest remains of atmospheric contamination in southern Europe

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:24:54 PDT

Atmospheric contamination due to heavy metals is currently a severe problem of global proportions, with important repercussions in public health. However, this type of pollution is not a recent fact and can even be detected during pre-historic times........> Full story

The right amount of vitamin D for babies

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:21:57 PDT

A new study led by Prof. Hope Weiler, from the School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition at McGill University and by Dr. Celia Rodd of McGill’s Department of Pediatrics, has just confirmed that 400 IU of vitamin D daily is sufficient for infant health........> Full story

Many stressors associated with fracking due to perceived lack of trust, Pitt finds

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:20:41 PDT

Pennsylvania residents living near unconventional natural gas developments using hydraulic fracturing, known by the slang term “fracking,” attribute several dozen health concerns and stressors to the Marcellus Shale developments in their area, according to a long-term analysis by University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health researchers........> Full story

Researchers track singing humpback whales on a Northwest Atlantic feeding ground

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:18:10 PDT

Male humpback whales sing complex songs in tropical waters during the winter breeding season, but they also sing at higher latitudes at other times of the year. NOAA researchers have provided the first detailed description linking humpback whale movements to acoustic behavior on a feeding ground in the Northwest Atlantic........> Full story

What happened to dinosaurs' predecessors after Earth's largest extinction 252 million years ago?

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:15:41 PDT

Predecessors to dinosaurs missed the race to fill habitats emptied when nine out of 10 species disappeared during Earth's largest mass extinction 252 million years ago. Or did they? That thinking was based on fossil records from sites in South Africa and southwest Russia.........> Full story

Longer days bring 'winter blues' -- for rats, not humans

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:28:58 PDT

Most of us are familiar with the “winter blues,” the depression-like symptoms known as “seasonal affective disorder,” or SAD, that occurs when the shorter days of winter limit our exposure to natural light and make us more lethargic, irritable and anxious. But for rats it’s just the opposite.........> Full story

Research finds psychological vulnerable older adults more susceptible to experience fraud

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:27:40 PDT

Researchers at Wayne State University, in collaboration with Illinois Institute of Technology, recently published a study advising clinical gerontologists in the field to be aware of older adults’ needs for assessment of financial exploitation or its potential when working with highly vulnerable individuals........> Full story

Pushing the boundaries of transcription

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:26:00 PDT

Like musicians in an orchestra who have the same musical score but start and finish playing at different intervals, cells with the same genes start and finish transcribing them at different points in the genome. For the first time, researchers at EMBL have described the striking diversity of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) that such start and end variation produces, even from the simple genome of yeast cells. Their findings, published today in Nature, shed new light on the importance of mRNA boundaries in determining the functional potential of genes........> Full story

Bold move forward in molecular analyses

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:24:30 PDT

A dramatic leap forward in the ability of scientists to study the structural states of macromolecules such as proteins and nanoparticles in solution has been achieved by a pair of researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). The researchers have developed a new set of metrics for analyzing data........> Full story

Important fertility mechanism discovered

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:15:36 PDT

Scientists in Mainz and Aachen have discovered a new mechanism that controls egg cell fertility and that might have future therapeutic potential. It was revealed by Professor Dr. Walter Stöcker of the Institute of Zoology at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) that the blood protein fetuin-B plays an important and previously unknown role in the fertilization of oocytes. Fetuin-B, first identified in the year 2000, is formed in the liver........> Full story

NASH diagnosis set to improve with non-invasive tool

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:12:44 PDT

A Chinese study[ⁱ] presented at the International Liver Congress^TM2013 has demonstrated the accuracy of a non-invasive test for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) diagnosis......> Full story