Knowledge Update

​New York, May 13 (IANS) A sixth sense can keep a driver safe even when he or she is absent-minded or emotionally-charged but not when they text while on the wheels, a team of US researchers has found.

The researchers from University of Houston (UH) and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) said that in all three interventions, the drivers' handling of the wheel became jittery with respect to normal driving but
texting while driving is too dangerous.

While this jittery handling resulted in significant lane deviations and unsafe driving in the case of texting distractions, in the case of absent-minded and emotionally charged distractions, jittery steering resulted in straighter trajectories with respect to a normal drive and safer driving.

"A likely explanation for this paradox is the function performed by a part of the brain called the Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) -- known to automatically intervene as an error corrector when there is conflict," said Ioannis Pavlidis from University of Houston.

"In this case, the conflict comes from the cognitive, emotional and sensorimotor, or texting, stressors. This raises the levels of physiological stress, funneling 'fight or flight' energy to the driver's arms, resulting in jittery handling of the steering wheel," Pavlidis added in a university statement.

According to him, brain's ACC automatically counterbalances any strong jitter to the left with an instant equally strong jitter to the right and vice versa.

For ACC to perform this corrective function, it needs support from the driver's eye-hand coordination loop. 

"The driver's mind can wander and his or her feelings may boil but a sixth sense keeps a person safe at least in terms of veering off course," Pavlidis noted. 

What makes texting so dangerous is that it wreaks havoc into this sixth sense. 

"Self-driving cars may bypass this and other problems, but the moral of the story is that humans have their own auto systems that work wonders, until they break," the authors noted.

The work was funded, in part, by the Toyota Class Action Settlement Safety Research and Education Programme.​

Toronto, May 13 (IANS) Opening doors to development of new drugs to control weight gain and obesity, researchers have identified brain cells that play a crucial role in appetite control.

Although these cells -- known as NG2-glia cells -- exist within different parts of the brain, it is those found in a specific brain structure called the median eminence that are crucial to weight control, the findings showed.

"About 20 years ago there was a big step forward in our understanding of obesity when researchers discovered that our appetite is controlled by a key molecule called leptin. Leptin is a hormone which is produced by our fat cells, and is delivered by the blood to the brain to signal the brain that we are full and can stop eating," explained one of the researchers Maia Kokoeva from McGill University in Monthreal, Canada.

"But even though receptors for leptin were discovered soon after in the hypothalamus, a brain area that regulates food intake and body weight, it has remained unclear how exactly leptin is detected," Kokoeva noted.

So the researchers set out to explore which brain cells might play a role in the process of leptin sensing and weight gain. 

The answer, it turns out according to the new research, lies in the NG2-glia cells in median eminence.

The median eminence is a brain structure at the base of the hypothalamus. It is a bit like a busy hub or market place through which hormones and molecules of various kinds travel in both directions between the brain and the bloodstream to ensure that the body functions smoothly.

The research team discovered that without a particular group of cells (NG2-glia cells) in place in the median eminence, the leptin receptors in the brain never receive the messages from the body telling it that it is sated.

The findings were published in the journal Cell Metabolism.

The researchers are hopeful that the identification of these cells in the median eminence as crucial elements in body weight and appetite control will pave the way to new targeted anti-obesity approaches directed towards maintaining or raising the NG2-glia population in the median eminence.​

New York, May 13 (IANS) A faint blue galaxy situated about 30 million light years from the Earth and located in the constellation "Leo Minor" can shed new light on birth of the universe.

Astronomers from Indiana University (IU) found that a galaxy nicknamed Leoncino or “little lion” contains the lowest level of heavy chemical elements or “metals” ever observed in a gravitationally bound system of stars.

“Finding the most metal-poor galaxy ever is exciting since it can help contribute to a quantitative test of the Big Bang," said professor John J. Salzer from IU's Bloomington College of Arts and Sciences.

There are relatively few ways to explore conditions at the birth of the universe, but low-metal galaxies are among the most promising.

This is because the current accepted model of the start of the universe makes clear predictions about the amount of helium and hydrogen present during the Big Bang.

The ratio of these atoms in metal-poor galaxies provides a direct test of the model.

To find these low-metal galaxies, however, astronomers must look far from home. 

Our own Milky Way galaxy is a poor source of data due to the high level of heavier elements created over time by “stellar processing,” in which stars churn out heavier elements.

“Low metal abundance is essentially a sign that very little stellar activity has taken place compared to most galaxies,” added Alec S Hirschauer, graduate student in a paper appeared the Astrophysical Journal. 

Leoncino is considered a member of the “local universe,” a region of space within about one billion light years from Earth and estimated to contain several million galaxies.

Aside from low levels of heavier elements, Leoncino is unique in several other ways. 

A so-called “dwarf galaxy,” it's only about 1,000 light years in diameter and composed of several million stars. 

The Milky Way, by comparison, contains an estimated 200 billion to 400 billion stars. 

“We're eager to continue to explore this mysterious galaxy," Salzer noted.​

Abu Dhabi, May 13 (IANS/WAM) A UAE researcher has contributed to the discovery of a new species of ant, according to a paper published in the Journal of Natural History.

The study, led by Mostafa R. Sharaf of the College of Food and Agriculture Sciences at Saudi Arabia's King Saud University, describes the ant species, whose scientific name is Lepisiota omanensis, as being remarkable because of "its exceptionally long, acute and strongly curved propodeal spines".

The paper describes the new species on the basis of five specimens, one of which was collected in Oman in 2012, two of which were collected in Ain Al Waal in UAE in 2014, and two in Oman in March this year.

The UAE researcher, Huw Roberts, from the Emirates University, said: "I have so far recorded well over 400 species of insects, most of which have been identified from specimens by specialists from around the world."

"This discovery shows that we still have much to learn about the wildlife and biodiversity of the UAE," he added.​

New York, May 14 (IANS) Consuming foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids is likely to reduce extreme aggression in children within a short period especially its more impulsive and emotional form, says a new research.

Omega-3 fatty acids are naturally found in fatty fish, such as tuna, seafood and some nuts and seeds.

The findings showed that incorporating Omega-3 vitamins and mineral supplements into the diets of children can decrease their aggressive and antisocial behaviour.

Also, the participants getting the combination of cognitive behavioural therapy and Omega-3s reported less aggression than the control group and the therapy-only group.

"Immediately after three months of the nutritional intervention rich in Omega-3s, we found a decrease in the children's reporting of their aggressive behaviour," said Therese Richmond from the University Of Pennsylvania, US.

For the study, published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, the randomised trial included 290 children who were aged between 11-12 year olds with a history of violence.

They were divided into four groups. The first received Omega-3 in the form of juice, as well as multivitamins and calcium for three months. 

The second group participated in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) which focused on the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and also practicing alternative actions the children could take to deal with difficult situations rather than to emotionally react to something. 

The third group took the supplements and participated in CBT, and the fourth received resources and information targeted at reducing aggressive behaviour. 

Blood samples at the experiment's start and conclusion measured Omega-3 levels in each child.​

​Beijing, May 12 (IANS) China has opened its first deep-sea research institute which experts said will be meaningful for resource exploitation and improvements to naval technology.

The Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering (IDSSE) located in Sanya, Hainan province passed an acceptance inspection and began official operations on Tuesday, authorities said on Wednesday.

The IDSSE is the first scientific research base for study of the deep seas and is also China's first public platform for deep-sea research and technological experiments.

"The deep sea has a wealth of resources including mineral, biotic and petroleum resources, and there are more than 40 billion tonnes of petroleum in the South China Sea alone. Therefore, it is necessary to enhance scientific research capabilities there," Gao Shu, director of the School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences at Nanjing University, told the Global Times.

Since 2012, Chinese scientists have participated in several research projects related to the South China Sea, including scientific voyages in the area.

Deep-sea research will also have military uses, as studies on complex marine environments can help improve naval technology, which is usually the most advanced military technology in a country.

The mother ship for a new deep-sea submersible was delivered to the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Guangzhou, Guangdong province on May 5. 

The 94-metre Tansuo 1 has a fully loaded displacement of 6,250 tonnes, and the submersible can reach a depth of 4,500 metres. It is expected to dive to the Mariana Trench for a research mission in the near future.​

​London, May 13 (IANS) Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes are likely to have more body fat at two months after birth as compared to babies born to healthy mothers, suggests new study led by researchers including an Indian-origin scientist.

The findings revealed although babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes had no differences in body fat content at birth, after two months they had 16 percent more body fat compared to those born to healthy mothers. 

"This new study suggests diabetes in the mother can trigger changes in the baby at a very early stage," said lead author Karen Logan, Imperial College of London in Britain.

Also, babies born to these mothers are at increased risk of developing diabetes in adulthood.

Changes in the baby's metabolism while in the womb - or even differences in the composition of breast milk in mothers with gestational diabetes can be some of the reasons behind the differences, the researchers said in the paper published in the journal Diabetes Care. 

Gestational diabetes usually starts when the woman is around seven months pregnant and results in a woman's blood sugar levels becoming too high. Excess weight and other factors such as genetic predisposition have been identified as the main causes of gestational diabetes. 

The condition, typically, resolves soon after giving birth but may elevate the woman risk of type 2 diabetes later in life.

"The majority of babies in our study were breast fed, and previous studies have suggested that diabetes may cause changes in breast milk - so that it contains more sugar, fat or different levels of compounds that control appetite, called hunger hormones," added Neena Modi, professor at Imperial College of London.

In the study, the scientists scanned 42 babies whose mothers were diagnosed with gestational diabetes, and 44 babies born to mothers without the condition, as a healthy control group. 

Using MRI scanning the team measured body fat in the babies. They took these readings shortly after birth, and again when the babies were eight to 12 weeks old.​

​New York, May 13 (IANS) Researchers have developed a simple paper-based test that can help patients with blood clotting disorders perform regular tests from the convenience of their homes.

While blood clotting due to cut or injury can be normal, sometimes a blood clot forms within a blood vessel that has not been injured or cut. 

For patients at risk for blood clots, strokes and hypertension, routine lab tests to monitor blood-thinning medications can be frequent, costly and painful.

Patients with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, kidney disease and others who are at risk for blood clotting are especially vulnerable when blood-thinning medication levels get too weak or too strong. 

This imbalance can quickly lead to ischemic (clotting) or hemorrhagic (bleeding) strokes if not detected in time.

"We have developed a blood screening device for patients on medications like Coumadin, warfarin or other blood thinners who need to monitor their blood-clotting levels on a regular basis," said Andrew Steckl, professor at University of Cincinnati in the US.

"Patients can soon monitor their blood coagulation characteristics from home quickly and painlessly before making needless trips to the lab or hospital," Steckl noted.

Using nanofiber membranes inside paper-based porous materials housed within a plastic cassette, the researchers can quickly reveal the level of the blood's ability to clot, and all from the convenience of the patient's living room with a simple finger stick to draw a drop of blood.

Slight changes in the level of coagulation properties will occur normally depending on certain food intake and overall health conditions, Steckl said.

But a major change in levels immediately shows up on the paper-based test stick resulting in clotting patterns registering on one end of the spectrum or the other and will put up a red flag before any physiological trouble starts, the study said.

The findings were presented at the eighth international conference on porous media and annual meeting of the International Society for Porous Media in Cincinnati, Ohio.​

New York, May 11 (IANS) Low doses of a general anaesthetic drug is likely to reduce suicidal thoughts in patients with treatment-resistant depression, finds a new study.

The findings showed that repeatedly infusing low doses of ketamine in depressed patients with recurrent suicidal thoughts might help them in recovering rapidly. 

"Our finding that low doses of ketamine, when added on to current antidepressant medications quickly decreased suicidal thinking in depressed patients, is critically important because we don't have many safe, effective and easily available treatments for these patients," said Dawn Ionescu, lead researcher from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in the US.

Having suicidal thoughts increases the risk that patients will attempt suicide. However, the risk of suicide attempts is 20 times higher in patients with depression than the general population. 

The study, published online in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, was designed not only to examine the antidepressant and anti-suicidal effects of repeated low-dose ketamine infusions, but also to examine the safety of increased ketamine dosage.

The team enrolled 14 patients with moderate to severe treatment-resistant depression who had suicidal thoughts for three months or longer and they received two weekly ketamine infusions over a three-week period. 

The initial dosage administered was 0.5 mg/kg over a 45-minute period -- about five times less than a typical anaesthetic dose -- and after the first three doses, it was increased to 0.75 mg/kg. 

The participants were assessed on measures of suicidal thinking, in which patients were directly asked to rank whether they had specific suicide-related thoughts, their frequency and intensity.

The results showed that most of them experienced a decrease in suicidal thinking, and seven achieved complete remission of suicidal thoughts at the end of the treatment period. 

"The study that aim to understand the mechanism by which ketamine and its metabolites work for people with suicidal thinking and depression may help us discover areas of the brain to target with new, even better therapeutic drugs," Ionescu concluded.​

​Tokyo, May 12 (IANS) After analysing a 3D map of 3,000 galaxies 13 billion light years from Earth, an international team led by Japanese researchers has found that theoretical physicist Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity is still valid.

Since it was discovered in the late 1990s that the universe is expanding at an accelerated rate, scientists have been trying to explain why.

The mysterious dark energy could be driving acceleration, or Einstein's theory of general relativity, which says gravity warps space and time, could be breaking down.

“We tested the theory of general relativity further than anyone else ever has. It's a privilege to be able to publish our results 100 years after Einstein proposed his theory," said project researcher Teppei Okumura from Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics (Kavli IPMU) at University of Tokyo.

To test Einstein's theory, the team led by Okumura and colleagues, with researchers from Tohoku University and Kyoto University, used “FastSound Survey” data on more than 3,000 distant galaxies to analyze their velocities and clustering.

The results indicated that even far into the universe, general relativity is valid, giving further support that the expansion of the universe could be explained by a cosmological constant as proposed by Einstein in his theory of general relativity.

“Having started this project 12 years ago, it gives me great pleasure to finally see this result come out," added Karl Glazebrook, professor at Swinburne University of Technology who proposed the survey.

No one has been able to analyse galaxies more than 10 billion light years away but the team managed to break this barrier thanks to the FMOS (Fiber Multi-Object Spectrograph) on the Subaru Telescope which can analyse galaxies 12.4-14.7 billion light years away.

The details of the study were published in the Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan.​