news 2011

University of Manchester scientists have led an international team to discover new treatments for a rare and potentially lethal childhood disease that is the clinical opposite of diabetes mellitus. Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is a condition where the body's pancreas produces too much insulin - rather than too little as in diabetes - so understanding the disease has led to breakthroughs in diabetes treatment.

How female wisdom in old age helps elephants survive The value of mature female experience may be something that human society needs to be reminded of from time to time but elephants, it seems, have good reason never to forget. Experiments conducted by University of Sussex behavioural ecologists Dr Karen McComb and Dr Graeme Shannon among the wild African elephants of Amboseli National Park in Kenya show how elephant groups are guided by the wisdom of a female leader or matriarch, accrued through a long lifetime of experience.

Its head looks like a turkey's, its body resembles a chicken's. Now scientists can explain why one of the poultry world's most curious specimens has developed such a distinctive look. The Transylvanian naked neck chicken - once dubbed a Churkey or a Turken because of its hybrid appearance - has developed its defining feature because of a complex genetic mutation.

Unique new map shows earthquake risks on humanity A map, which provides a general representation of the risks of earthquakes on humanity using records from the past 4,000 years, has been produced by a geographer from the University of Sheffield. The new World Earthquake Intensity Map has been created on an equal-population map and allows us to understand the earthquake intensity in relation to today´s population distribution, giving an idea of where most people are at risk in regards to seismic activity.

Science 14 Mar 11 Researchers have shown that breastfeeding causes children to do better at school. The research conducted by Oxford University and the Institute for Social and Economic Research, Essex University, found that as little as four weeks of breastfeeding for a newborn baby has a significant effect on brain development, which persists until the child is at least 14 years old.

Researchers have provided new clues into the genetics underlying a chronic form of liver disease, called primary biliary cirrhosis, which can lead to transplant surgery for patients. The new study identifies 15 genetic regions that affect a person's risk of developing the disease, more than trebling the number of known genetic regions, which now stands at 22.

New method for self-assembling molecules Researchers at the University of Sheffield have discovered a new way of making small molecules self-assemble into complex nanopatterns, which will push the limits of what is possible in `bottom-up´ methods of nanopatterning for advanced functional materials through molecular self-assembly.

A new study into the exclusion tactics adopted by urban foxes suggests that the transient nature of animal territory is a result of a complex system of individual-level interactions. The size of an animal's territory is ultimately dependent on how long it can exert its control before intruders cross the boundaries into its space.

PA 79/11 Pregnant non-smokers who breathe in the second-hand smoke of other people are at an increased risk of delivering stillborn babies or babies with defects, a study led by researchers at The University of Nottingham has found. The study, published in the April edition of the journal Pediatrics , found passive smoking increased the risk of still birth by almost one-quarter (23 per cent) and was linked to a 13 per cent increased risk of congenital birth defects.

Scientists have shed light on why some people are apple-shaped and others are pear-shaped. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have pinpointed a protein that plays a part in how fat is stored in the body. The latest findings give greater understanding of how the protein works, which could help development of medicines to treat obesity.

The structures inside animals' thigh bones that enable them to support huge loads whilst being relatively lightweight are revealed in research published today in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. The researchers say their work could lead to the development of new materials based on thigh bone geometry.

A study has gained new insight into the minds of domestic hens, discovering, for the first time, that domestic hens show a clear physiological and behavioural response when their chicks are mildly distressed. The research by academics at the University of Bristol's Animal Welfare and Behaviour research group in the School of Veterinary Sciences , and funded by the BBSRC Animal Welfare Initiative, is published online in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B .

That’s the key finding of a major piece of groundbreaking research from an academic at the University of Plymouth. The research could play a significant part in the transition to a more sustainable society, increasing local food production and boosting the rural economy in both developed and developing countries.

From the Asian elephant to the roadrunner: study of 90 animals? thigh bones reveals how they can efficiently carry loads Study suggests new materials could be developed that are inspired by geometry inside thigh bones The structures inside animals' thigh bones that enable them to support huge loads whilst being relatively lightweight are revealed in research published today in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. The researchers say their work could lead to the development of new materials based on thigh bone geometry.

PA 73/11 A breakthrough by scientists at The University of Nottingham could provide hope for any allergy sufferers who have ever had to choose between their health and their household pet. The team of immunologists led by Drs Ghaem-Maghami and Martinez-Pomares in the University's School of Molecular Medical Sciences, and funded by the charity Asthma UK, have identified a cell component which plays a key role in triggering allergic responses to cat dander.

Research provides new insight into why poor diet during pregnancy negatively affects offspring's long term health. Poor diet during pregnancy increases offspring's vulnerability to the effects of aging, new research has shown for the first time. The research, by scientists from the University of Cambridge, provides important insight into why children born to mothers who consumed an unhealthy diet during pregnancy have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes (a significant contributing factor to heart disease and cancer) later in life.

A tropical frog - the only one of its kind in the world - is providing conservationists with exclusive insights into the genetic make-up of its closest endangered relatives. University of Manchester scientists have allowed two critically endangered species of Central American Leaf frogs to interbreed, producing the unique frog - a hybrid of the two species.

Study finds five new genetic variants linked to heart disease Five new genetic variants linked to heart disease have been identified in a meta-analysis of four large genome-wide association studies, published this week. By Sam Wong Monday 7 March 2011 Five new genetic variants linked to heart disease have been identified in a meta-analysis of four large genome-wide association studies, published this week.

Scientists have identified a single mutated gene that causes Hajdu-Cheney syndrome, a disorder of the bones causing progressive bone loss and osteoporosis (fragile bones). The study, published today, gives vital insight into possible causes of osteoporosis and highlights the gene as a potential target for treating the condition.

Using midwives and other maternity staff more effectively is the key to improving maternity care in hospitals, according to findings of a review led by King's, commissioned by The King's Fund. Despite the fierce debate over midwife numbers, increasing staffing levels will not be easy in the current financial climate.