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Science News Archive December 2004 - Page 10


Page 10 of 12

Impulsive behavior may be relict of hunter-gatherer past

Research suggests that impulsive behavior in animals, including blue jays, may be an evolutionary adaptation to foraging in the wild. The study found that birds prioritized immediate rewards over delayed ones, as they would often forget about food and continue foraging. This impulsiveness may have been beneficial for survival but is no...

SourceUniversity of Minnesota·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society of London·DateDec 6, 2004

Dec. 7 tip sheet Annals of Internal Medicine

A study of 1,718 people found that COX-2 inhibitor rofecoxib was associated with a higher risk of heart attack compared to celecoxib and older non-selective non-aspirin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NANSAIDs). In contrast, those who used NANSAIDs had a decreased risk for myocardial infarction.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateDec 6, 2004

TV ads during sports depict unsafe behavior and violence

A study found that nearly one in five commercials during televised major sporting events show unsafe behavior, with bicycles ridden without helmets being depicted frequently. The study also revealed that 14% of commercials showed unsafe behavior, while 6% displayed violence, mostly in movies and TV programs.

SourcePenn State·JournalPEDIATRICS·DateDec 6, 2004

A new tiger subspecies?

A new tiger subspecies has been identified through a genetic analysis of over 130 tigers, suggesting six living subspecies rather than the traditional five. The study provides valuable data for conservation strategies and captive breeding programs to combat the decline of wild tiger populations.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateDec 6, 2004

Human gland probably evolved from gills

Researchers suggest that the parathyroid gland evolved from the gills of ancestral marine creatures to regulate calcium levels in land-living animals. The discovery supports the idea that humans and other tetrapods share a common evolutionary history with fish.

SourceKing's College London·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 6, 2004

Prediction of gene function in mammals

Researchers from the University of Toronto developed a new method for predicting mammalian gene function by analyzing RNA expression patterns. They used a support vector machine algorithm to analyze over 40,000 known mouse mRNAs and predicted functions for thousands of genes, with high accuracy.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalJournal of Biology·DateDec 5, 2004

Nursing homes register 41 percent drop in residents' pain

Researchers at Brown Medical School and Quality Partners tested a rapid-cycle quality improvement model to address persistent pain in nursing home residents. The study showed a significant reduction in pain, with 44% of homes using appropriate pain assessments and 82% using non-drug pain treatments.

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateDec 3, 2004

Quantum memory for light

Researchers successfully transfer the quantum state of a light pulse onto a set of atoms, demonstrating quantum memory. The experiment achieved a 70% coincidence rate, which is higher than what can be obtained by measuring the polarization of the photons directly.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·DateDec 3, 2004

The impact of body weight on the progression of knee osteoarthritis

A study published in Arthritis & Rheumatism found that weight gain significantly increases the risk of disease progression in knees with moderate malalignment, but has no impact in neutrally aligned or severely malaligned legs. Researchers suggest targeting weight loss efforts for patients with moderate malalignment to slow disease pro...

SourceWiley·JournalArthritis & Rheumatism·DateDec 2, 2004

Save up your energy reserves for a longer life!

Scientists found that animals with extra copies of the AMP-1 enzyme lived 13% longer than controls, while environmental stressors activating AMP-1 also led to longer lives. The study's findings have broad implications for understanding human aging and potentially extending lifespan through exercise and therapeutics.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateDec 2, 2004

Bosons crystallize in 2-D traps

Researchers at Georgia Tech discovered that bosons placed in two-dimensional harmonic traps will crystallize when their repulsive interactions are increased. Theoretical simulations showed six bosons forming a polygonal crystal with one boson in the center.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateDec 2, 2004