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Science News Archive 2001 - Page 13


Page 13 of 47

Water shows surprising behavior at molecular level

Researchers found that water molecules can move through tiny carbon nanotubes in short bursts, with changes in interaction causing the tube to empty or fill. This dynamic behavior has implications for understanding how water is conducted in biological channels and may contribute to developing new sensors.

SourceUniversity of Maine·JournalNature·DateNov 7, 2001

Weak sperm count does not always mean infertility, study says

A new study proposes revised guidelines for classifying semen samples as normal or abnormal, potentially rewriting laboratory standards used for 50 years. The research suggests that male infertility is not as clear-cut as current guidelines suggest, and that a 'gray zone' of borderline semen samples requires new treatment approaches.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateNov 7, 2001

New recommendations to assess male fertility question previous standards

New guidelines for assessing male fertility provide a more reliable means of estimating fertility, helping specialists tailor treatments to individual patient circumstances. The revised standards identify key parameters, including sperm count, motility, and morphology, to better determine a man's likelihood of fathering a child.

Government regulations can prove discriminatory to minority religions

A new study analyzing 2,109 court cases on religion found that government regulations can disproportionately affect minority religions. The study, led by Dr. Roger K. Finke, reveals that minority religions are more likely to be involved in court decisions and less likely to receive favorable rulings compared to mainline churches.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal for the Scientific Study of Religion·DateNov 7, 2001

Oxygen is toxic to stem cells

A study by Michigan Medicine researchers found that high oxygen levels can be toxic to stem cells, converting muscle cells into fat cells. This discovery has important clinical implications for the treatment of obesity and diabetes, as it may be related to aging and oxidative stress conditions.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalJournal of Cellular Physiology·DateNov 7, 2001

T cell molecules may play a role in ischemia

Researchers found that CD4 cells help mediate damage during ischemia, and two specific molecules, CD28 and IFN-gamma, were identified as participating in the injury process. This challenges current ideas of T cell function and may lead to new treatments for conditions like strokes and heart attacks.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateNov 6, 2001

Mayo Clinic study finds prophylactic mastectomy reduces breast cancer risk in highest-risk group of women — carriers of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations

A Mayo Clinic study found that prophylactic mastectomy reduced the risk of breast cancer in women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations by 89.5% to 100%. The study followed 26 high-risk women for 13.4 years without developing breast cancer, despite predicted risks of 6-9 cases.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateNov 6, 2001

Where do spoken words come from?

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute developed a theory to explain lexical selection and form encoding in spoken word production. The theory proposes two major processing components: lexical selection and form encoding, which can be completed within two-thirds of a second.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 6, 2001