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Science News Archive 2001 - Page 40


Page 40 of 47

Family stress a factor in asthma

A study of 84 Australian children with asthma found that family environment plays a significant role in their experience. Children from stable families with defined roles, rules, and emotional support were less distressed by symptoms.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalJournal of Asthma·DateJul 2, 2001

Making cyberspace collaboration succeed

Researchers at University of Michigan and Northwestern University emphasize the importance of social and organizational readiness, technological readiness, rewards and incentives, and finding time in collaboratories. These factors enable effective collaboration and innovation in scientific practice.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalScience·DateJul 2, 2001

Experimental microbeam radiation therapy may offer improvement over traditional radiation treatments

Researchers have developed a new radiation therapy technique that shows significant improvement over traditional methods in treating brain tumors in infants. The treatment uses high-intensity synchrotron sources to confine x-rays to extremely narrow slices, resulting in reduced damage to surrounding tissue.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalCellular and Molecular Biology·DateJul 2, 2001

Study gives clues to workings of anti-Alzheimer antibody

Researchers at WashU Medicine discovered an antibody that targets a specific region of the amyloid-beta protein, drawing it out of the brain and into the blood. The study found that mice treated with the antibody developed fewer amyloid plaques in their brains than control animals.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 2, 2001

Drug protects infants with high-risk heart defect from neurologic and cardiac injury after heart surgery

A new study published in Pediatrics found that allopurinol significantly reduced seizures and cardiac events in infants with high-risk heart defects undergoing heart surgery. The study, led by Dr. Robert R. Clancy, used deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and randomized infants to receive either allopurinol or a placebo.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalPEDIATRICS·DateJul 2, 2001

Teens' second pregnancy rates lower with long-term contraceptives

A study published in American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that long-term contraceptives, such as Norplant, reduced second pregnancy rates among teens. Among the participants who chose these methods, only 11% became pregnant within a year, compared to 25% of those using oral contraceptives and 38% of those not using birth control.

SourceCenter for Advancing Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateJul 1, 2001

Emotional support keeps brain going into old age

A study found that emotional support was a significant predictor of better cognitive function in older adults, independent of other risk factors. Unmarried participants showed better cognitive function than married ones, suggesting that the presence of a spouse may have negative effects on cognition due to care burdens.

SourceCenter for Advancing Health·JournalHealth Psychology·DateJul 1, 2001

Kangaroo, platypus are not related after all; Duke scientists refute current molecular method of classifying mammals

Researchers at Duke University used nuclear genes to analyze genetic material from 15 mammal species, providing statistically unambiguous results in favor of the Theria hypothesis. This contradicts the Marsupionta hypothesis supported by mitochondrial DNA method, which links disparate animals like kangaroos and whales.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalMammalian Genome·DateJul 1, 2001

Manipulating a single gene dramatically improves regeneration in adult neurons: Finding may lead to new approaches for treating brain and spinal cord damage

A study found that genetically engineering adult neurons to produce more integrin protein dramatically increases nerve fiber growth. The approach has the potential to lead to new therapies for treating brain and spinal cord injuries. Researchers plan to further investigate this finding in animal models.

New model for predicting stroke outcome

Researchers developed a predictive model using MRI scans to estimate stroke recovery likelihood based on NIHSS score, time to scan, and ischaemic brain tissue volume. The model was validated in an independent dataset, identifying low, medium, and high recovery levels.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateJun 29, 2001

E-commerce to cause major shake-up of world transport

Global e-commerce growth is expected to significantly impact the transport industry, leading to a 50-100% increase in intercity freight trips and air travel by 2005. This shift is driven by increasing customer expectations for 'right now' deliveries and the need for more flexible, fragmented, and on-demand transport services.