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Science News for April 14, 1999


Study Finds Combining Exercise With Male Hormone Therapy Benefits Men With HIV-Wasting Disease

A new clinical study has found that a combination of exercise and moderate doses of male hormones can benefit men with HIV-wasting syndrome by building up lean tissue. The study showed significant increases in lean body mass and muscle strength, regardless of whether patients were undergoing treatment with HIV anti-retroviral drugs.

Melatonin Shapes Brain Structure In Songbirds

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have identified melatonin as a key hormone that regulates brain plasticity in songbirds. The study found that melatonin reduces overall volume of the high vocal center, a brain area involved in song production, despite exposure to artificial daylight hours.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 14, 1999

How Can You Tell Whether Corn Is Fungus-Ridden?

Researchers have developed a new technique to spot contaminated corn by listening for telltale noises made by mouldy kernels when exposed to infrared strobe light. The method uses Fourier Transform Infrared Photoacoustic Spectroscopy (FTIR-PAS) and achieves a 96% accuracy in spotting clean and contaminated corn.

SourceNew Scientist·JournalThe New Scientist·DateApr 14, 1999