Public Release: 26-Jan-2009
Current Biology
How does a dog walk? Surprisingly, many of us don't really know
Despite the fact that most of us see our four-legged friends walking around every day, most of us -- including many experts in natural history museums and illustrators for veterinary anatomy text books -- apparently still don't know how they do it. A new study published in the Jan. 27 issue of Current Biology, a Cell Press publication, shows that anatomists, taxidermists, and toy designers get the walking gait of horses and other quadruped animals wrong about half the time.
Contact: Cathleen Genova
cgenova@cell.com
617-397-2802
Cell Press
Public Release: 26-Jan-2009
PLoS Biology
Move over, sponges
New and comprehensive molecular research from the American Museum of Natural History, Tieraeztliche Hochschule Hannover, and Yale University confirms a deep evolutionary division among animals. This new tree of life divides all so-called "lower" metazoans (Placozoa, corals, sponges, and jellyfish) from "higher" animals (all other metazoans, from flatworms to chordates). Placozoans have also passed over comb jellies and other organisms as an animal that most closely mirrors the root of this tree of life.
Contact: Kristin Elise Phillips
kphillips@amnh.org
212-496-3419
American Museum of Natural History
Public Release: 26-Jan-2009
Journal of Clinical Investigation
Aspirin can prevent liver damage that afflicts millions, Yale study finds
Simple aspirin may prevent liver damage in millions of people suffering from side effects of common drugs, alcohol abuse, and obesity-related liver disease, a new Yale University study suggests.
Contact: Bill Hathaway
william.hathaway@yale.edu
203-432-1322
Yale University
Public Release: 26-Jan-2009
Emerging Infectious Diseases
Unmasked and vulnerable
Donning a face mask is an easy way to boost protection from severe respiratory illnesses such as influenza and SARS, new research from the University of New South Wales has found, but convincing a reluctant public and health workers is proving a struggle.
Australian Department of Health and Aging Contact: Steve Offner
s.offner@unsw.edu.au
61-424-580-208
University of New South Wales
Public Release: 26-Jan-2009
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
'Great speciators' explained: It's intrinsic
New molecular research shows that white eye birds (family Zosteropidae) form new species at a faster rate than any other known bird. Remarkably, unlike other rapid diversifications, which are generally confined in geography, white eyes diversified across multiple continents and far-flung islands. These birds were dubbed "Great Speciators" by Ernst Mayr and Jared Diamond for this ability to rapidly form new species with little geographic limitation, and both thought that some intrinsic trait drove the extreme, observed patterns.
Contact: Kristin Elise Phillips
kphillips@amnh.org
212-496-3419
American Museum of Natural History
Public Release: 26-Jan-2009
Archives of Internal Medicine
Statewide study confirms 'paperless' hospitals are better for patients
Results from a large-scale Johns Hopkins study of more than 40 hospitals and 160,000 patients show that when health information technologies replace paper forms and handwritten notes, both hospitals and patients benefit strongly.
Contact: Eric Vohr
evohr1@jhmi.edu
410-955-8665
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
Public Release: 26-Jan-2009
BJU International
Frequent sex and masturbation in 20s and 30s linked to higher prostate cancer risk
A study of 840 men shows that men who developed prostate cancer were more likely to have engaged in frequent sexual activity in their 20s and 30s, particularly masturbation. But the same activity in a man's 50s seems to provide a protective effect. What makes this study stand out is that the men who took part had all been diagnosed with the disease in their 50s and were quizzed on all aspects of their sex lives since their 20s.
Contact: Annette Whibley
wizard.media@virgin.net
Wiley-Blackwell
Public Release: 26-Jan-2009
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
Scientists identify bacteria that increase plant growth
Through work originally designed to remove contaminants from soil, scientists have identified plant-associated microbes that can improve plant growth on marginal soil. The findings may help scientists design strategies for sustainable biofuel production that do not use food crops or agricultural land.
US Department of Energy, Laboratory Directed Research and Development Funds, Flanders Science Foundation, Institute for the Promotion of Innovation by Science and Technology Contact: Karen McNulty Walsh
kmcnulty@bnl.gov
631-344-8350
DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory
Public Release: 26-Jan-2009
Bone
Astronauts on International Space Station lose alarming amounts of hipbone strength
Astronauts spending months in space lose significant bone strength, making them increasingly at risk for fractures later in life.
NASA Contact: Tom Vasich
tmvasich@uci.edu
949-824-6455
University of California - Irvine
Public Release: 26-Jan-2009
Journal of American Geriatrics Society
Common medication associated with cognitive decline in elderly
A study published in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society suggested that the use of certain medications in elderly populations may be associated with cognitive decline. The study examined the effects of exposure to anticholinergic medications, a type of drug used to treat a variety of disorders that include respiratory and gastrointestinal problems, on over 500 relatively healthy men age 65 years or older with high blood pressure.
Contact: Sean Wagner
medicalnews@bos.blackwellpublishing.net
781-388-8550
Wiley-Blackwell
Public Release: 26-Jan-2009
Archives of Internal Medicine
Cutting salt isn't the only way to reduce blood pressure
Most people know that too much sodium from foods can increase blood pressure. A new study suggests that people trying to lower their blood pressure should also boost their intake of potassium, which has the opposite effect to sodium. Researchers found that the ratio of sodium-to-potassium in subjects' urine was a much stronger predictor of cardiovascular disease than sodium or potassium alone.
Contact: Jim Ritter
jritter@lumc.edu
708-216-2445
Loyola University Health System
Male bonding is rife in chimp society too
More than females, male chimps forge lasting social bonds with other males, finds a 10-year study
11:10 26 January 2009
Alcohol stops men being a flop in bed
Despite traditional views about the effects of booze on male performance, new research suggests that moderate drinking actually protects against impotence
17:45 26 January 2009
Apollo 17 sample helps date Moon
A tiny grain of the mineral zircon in a rock brought back by astronauts is older than any yet found on Earth
17:59 26 January 2009
Public Release: 27-Jan-2009
Current Biology
Billion-year revision of plant evolution timeline may stem from discovery of lignin in seaweed
Land plants' ability to sprout upward through the air, unsupported except by their own woody tissues, has long been considered one of the characteristics separating them from aquatic plants, which rely on water to support them.
National Science Foundation, US Department of Energy Contact: Brian Lin
brian.lin@ubc.ca
604-822-2234
University of British Columbia
Public Release: 27-Jan-2009
Journal of Orthopedic Research
New twist on old medical technology may prevent amputations
Old technologies, bone cement and a well known antibiotic, may effectively fight an emerging infection in soldiers with compound bone fractures, according to a study published online today in the Journal of Orthopedic Research. An urgent search for solutions is underway as 20,000 additional American soldiers head for Afghanistan, and as evidence emerges that the infection studied may set the stage for more dangerous infections that can lead to amputation.
US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity Contact: Greg Williams
Greg_Williams@urmc.rochester.edu
585-273-1757
University of Rochester Medical Center
Public Release: 27-Jan-2009
American Journal of Veterinary Research
Dog owners more likely to share germs with pets by not washing hands than by sleeping with dog
Dog owners who sleep with their pet or permit licks on the face are in good company. Surveys show that more than half of owners bond with their pets in these ways. Research done by a veterinarian at Kansas State University found that these dog owners are no more likely to share the same strains of E. coli bacteria with their pets than are other dog owners.
Contact: Dr. Kate Stenske
kstenske@vet.k-state.edu
785-532-4282
Kansas State University
Public Release: 28-Jan-2009
Anthrozoos
Names give cows a lotta bottle
Giving a cow a name helps to boost her milk production, Newcastle University scientists have found.
Contact: Dr Catherine Douglas
catherine.douglas@ncl.ac.uk
07-715-103-650
Newcastle University
Spread of Malaria Feared as Drug Loses Potency
The parasite that causes the deadliest form of malaria is showing the first signs of resistance to the best new drug against it.
By THOMAS FULLER
The Epidemic That Wasn’t
Scientists are systematically following children exposed to cocaine before birth and the findings suggest that the long-term effects may be relatively small.
* After a Troubled Start, a Child Blossoms
By SUSAN OKIE
Essay
Elevating Science, Elevating Democracy
Science is not a monument of received Truth but something that people do to look for truth.
By DENNIS OVERBYE
Truck-mounted laser shoots down spy drone
The days of battlefields criss-crossed by laser beams may not be far away – a portable laser has proved able to track and destroy a small uncrewed aircraft
11:46 27 January 2009
How the 'Mouse Man' changed medical research
A century ago – against the advice of his professor – a young student bred the animal that became the workhorse of science, the laboratory mouse
HISTORIES:  10:20 28 January 2009
Ötzi’s Last Days: Glacier man may have been attacked twice
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
Public Release: 28-Jan-2009
Nature
Weizmann Institute scientists create working artificial nerve networks
Weizmann Institute scientists are learning how to grow nerve networks that perform as logic circuits.
Contact: Yivsam Azgad
news@weizmann.ac.il
972-893-43856
Weizmann Institute of Science
Public Release: 28-Jan-2009
Journal of Clinical Oncology
Study shows younger women with endometrial cancer can safely keep ovaries, avoid early menopause
A study published online Jan. 26, 2009, in the Journal of Clinical Oncology shows no survival difference between premenopausal women with early stage endometrial cancer whose ovaries were left intact during cancer surgery compared with those whose ovaries were surgically removed.
Contact: Kelly Powell
kelly.powell@asco.org
571-483-1365
American Society of Clinical Oncology
Public Release: 28-Jan-2009
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Charcoal evidence tracks climate changes in Younger Dryas
A new study reports that charcoal particles left by wildfires in sediments of 35 North American lake beds don't readily support the theory that comets exploding over the continent 12,900 years ago sparked a cooling period known as the Younger Dryas. However, researchers did find clear links between abrupt climate changes and fire activity during the transition between the last Ice Age and the warm interglacial period that began 11,700 years ago.
National Science Foundation
Contact: Jim Barlow
jebarlow@uoregon.edu
541-346-3481
University of Oregon
Public Release: 28-Jan-2009
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
New computational technique allows comparison of whole genomes as easily as whole books
When comparing the genomes of different organisms to create an evolutionary tree, scientists have been restricted to using a few dozen genes common to all of them. No longer. UC Berkeley chemist Sung-Hou Kim and his colleagues have discovered a way to compare entire genomes across a range of sizes. The method, which treats the genome as a book without spaces or punctuation, works equally well for comparing written texts to detect plagiarism or authorship.
National Institutes of Health
Contact: Robert Sanders
rsanders@berkeley.edu
510-643-6998
University of California - Berkeley
Public Release: 28-Jan-2009
Plums poised to give blueberries run for the money
There's an emerging star in the super-food world -- plums. Plainly, "blueberries have some stiff competition," said Dr. Luis Cisneros, food scientist with Texas AgriLife Research."Stone fruits are super fruits and plums are emerging stars." Far from fruit snobbery, the plum is being ushered in after more than 100 varieties of plums, peaches and nectarines were found to match or exceed blueberries in antioxidants and phytonutrients associated with disease prevention.
Texas A&M University, California Tree Fruit Agreement
Contact: Kathleen Phillips
ka-phillips@tamu.edu
979-845-2872
Texas A&M AgriLife Communications
Public Release: 28-Jan-2009
Psychological Science
Marching to the beat of the same drum improves teamwork
Armies train by marching in step. Citizens sing the National Anthem before sporting events. Why do we participate in these various synchronized activities? A new study, published in the January issue of Psychological Science, suggests that when people engage in synchronous activity together, they become more likely to cooperate with other group members.
Contact: Barbara Isanski
bisanski@psychologicalscience.org
Association for Psychological Science
Public Release: 28-Jan-2009
Environmental Science & Technology
Some of Earth's climate troubles should face burial at sea, scientists say
Making bales with 30 percent of global crop residues -- the stalks and such left after harvesting -- and then sinking the bales into the deep ocean could reduce the build up of global carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by up to 15 percent a year, according to just published calculations. It's a process that can be accomplished with existing technology and it can be done year after year, says a University of Washington researcher.
Contact: Sandra Hines
shines@u.washington.edu
206-543-2580
University of Washington
Public Release: 29-Jan-2009
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Study finds 'rescue course' of antenatal steroids improves outcome in premature babies
A new study shows that premature babies born before 34 weeks have a 31 percent reduction in serious complications when given a "rescue course" of antenatal corticosteroids steroids with no adverse side effects noted.
Contact: Vicki Bendure
vicki@bendurepr.com
202-374-9259
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Public Release: 29-Jan-2009
Journal of Pediatrics
New study explores the relationship between preterm birth and autism spectrum disorder
Recent studies have suggested that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be more prevalent among children born very prematurely. The early symptoms of ASD are also associated with other conditions related to preterm births, such as cerebral palsy, which can make it difficult to correctly screen children for ASD. Researchers have begun to explore the relationship between preterm birth, cognitive and developmental impairments, and ASD. Two articles soon to be published in the Journal of Pediatrics explore this possible correlation.
Contact: Brigid Huey
journal.pediatrics@cchmc.org
513-636-7140
Elsevier Health Sciences
Public Release: 29-Jan-2009
Globalization and Health
Tobacco companies target girls
Tobacco marketing in South Korea has been deliberately aimed at girls and young women. Research published in the open access journal Globalization and Health has shown that transnational tobacco companies are using tactics long used with devastating effect in Western countries to snare new female smokers in Asia.
Contact: Graeme Baldwin
graeme.baldwin@biomedcentral.com
44-020-707-94804
BioMed Central
Public Release: 29-Jan-2009
Deutsches Ärzteblatt International
Sudden cardiac death without recognizable cause
In about 10 percent of cases, sudden cardiac death in young people is due to a cardiac gene defect. This was the conclusion drawn by Silke Kauferstein of the Department of Forensic Medicine of the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt, and her co-authors in the current Deutsches Arzteblatt International.
Contact: Elke Bartholomäus
bartholomaeus@aerzteblatt.de
Deutsches Aerzteblatt International
Public Release: 29-Jan-2009
Molecular and Cellular Biology
UT Southwestern researchers identify protein that may explain 'healthy' obesity
Mice whose fat cells were allowed to grow larger than fat cells in normal mice developed "healthy" obesity when fed a high-fat diet, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found in a new study.
National Institutes of Health
Contact: Kristen Holland Shear
kristen.hollandshear@utsouthwestern.edu
214-648-3404
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Public Release: 29-Jan-2009
Lancet Neurology
Stem cell transplant reverses early stage multiple sclerosis
Researchers from Northwestern University appear to have reversed the neurological dysfunction of early stage multiple sclerosis patients by transplanting their own immune stem cells into their bodies and thereby "resetting" their immune systems. This is the first time neurological disability has been reversed in MS. The patients' disease also stabilized.
Contact: Marla Paul
marla-Paul@northwestern.edu
312-503-8928
Northwestern University
Public Release: 29-Jan-2009
Nature
Discovery of ionic elemental crystal against chemical intuition
An ETH Zurich researcher has developed a computational method for predicting the structure of materials. He used it to solve the structure of a newly synthesized form of pure boron that displays some unusual physical properties and brings a surprise: it is partially ionic.
Contact: Professor Artem Oganov
artem.oganov@sunysb.edu
631-632-1429
ETH Zurich/Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Public Release: 29-Jan-2009
Photomedicine and Laser Surgery
Blue light destroys antibiotic-resistant staph infection
Two common strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as MRSA, were virtually eradicated in the laboratory by exposing them to a wavelength of blue light, in a process called photo-irradiation that is described in a paper published online ahead of print in Photomedicine and Laser Surgery
Contact: Vicki Cohn
vcohn@liebertpub.com
914-740-2156
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News
Public Release: 30-Jan-2009
Brain, Behavior and Immunity
Stress may hasten the growth of melanoma tumors
For patients with a particularly aggressive form of skin cancer -- malignant melanoma -- stress, including that which comes from simply hearing that diagnosis, might amplify the progression of their disease. But the same new research that infers this also suggests that the use of commonly prescribed blood pressure medicines might slow the development of those tumors and therefore improve these patients' quality of life.
NIH/National Cancer Institute
Contact: Ronald Glaser
glaser.1@osu.edu
614-292-5526
Ohio State University
New comet may be visible with the naked eye
A comet that is probably visiting the solar system for the first time should reveal its twin tails to observers in the next few weeks
11:16 30 January 2009
Men smell of cheese and women of onions
Little girls may be made of sugar and spice and all things nice, but women's armpits smell of onions – and men's are a tad unsavory too
THIS WEEK:  13:00 30 January 2009
Public Release: 30-Jan-2009
PLoS ONE
Teaching an old drug new tricks
A century-old drug that failed in its original intent to treat tuberculosis but has worked well as an anti-leprosy medicine now holds new promise as a potential therapy for multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases.
Contact: Maryalice Yakutchik
myakutc1@jhmi.edu
443-287-2251
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
Public Release: 1-Feb-2009
Sleep
Study suggests that inflammation may be the link between extreme sleep durations and poor health
A study in the Feb. 1 issue of the journal SLEEP shows that sleep duration is associated with changes in the levels of specific cytokines that are important in regulating inflammation. The results suggest that inflammation may be the pathway linking extreme sleep durations to an increased risk for disease.
Contact: Kelly Wagner
kwagner@aasmnet.org
708-492-0930
American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Public Release: 1-Feb-2009
Geology
Ancient turtle migrated from Asia to America over a tropical Arctic
In Arctic Canada, a team of geologists from the University of Rochester has discovered a surprise fossil: a tropical, freshwater, Asian turtle. The find strongly suggests that animals migrated from Asia to North America not around Alaska, as once thought, but directly across a freshwater sea floating atop the warm, salty Arctic Ocean.
Contact: Jonathan Sherwood
jonathan.sherwood@rochester.edu
585-273-4726
University of Rochester
Particle accelerators could stop isotope shortages
Shifting production of vital medical isotopes from nuclear reactors could help keep hospitals stocked
UPFRONT:  10:00 01 February 2009
Public Release: 1-Feb-2009
Nature Genetics
Penn study finds link between Parkinson's disease genes and manganese poisoning
A connection between genetic and environmental causes of Parkinson's disease has been discovered by a research team. They found a genetic interaction between two Parkinson's disease genes (alpha-synuclein and PARK9) and determined that the PARK9 protein can protect cells from manganese poisoning, which is an environmental risk factor for a Parkinson's disease-like syndrome.
National Institutes of Health
Contact: Karen Kreeger
karen.kreeger@uphs.upenn.edu
 215-349-5658
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine