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Science News Archive 2005 - Page 104


Page 104 of 165

Words influence smells

Subjects rated odors more pleasant when labeled with positive words like 'cheddar cheese', whereas unpleasant labels had the opposite effect. The study also found that brain regions processing odors were activated by word labels, highlighting high-level cognitive inputs' impact on sensory perception.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateMay 18, 2005

Same fold in viral shells point to common ancestry

Researchers at Purdue University found that viruses T4 and HK97 share similar protein folds in their outer shells, suggesting a common ancestor. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provide further evidence for the evolutionary conservation of viral capsid structures.

SourcePurdue University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 18, 2005

Umbilical cord-blood transplants save lives of babies with rare genetic disorder

The study demonstrates that umbilical cord-blood transplant is a life-saving treatment for newborns with infantile Krabbe's disease. Most infants with the disease die before reaching age 2, but treated newborns showed continual improvement in developmental skills and had age-appropriate mental and language skills.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMay 18, 2005

Dye to pinpoint diseases and pathogens

Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed a detection technique using DNA to pinpoint diseases and pathogens. The system, which involves a fluorescent dye attached to probe DNA, can detect target DNA sequences in a matter of seconds and is being seen as a potential game-changer for clinical care and environmental monitoring.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalBioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters·DateMay 18, 2005

Iodine deficiency, supplements affect thyroid cancer risk in children exposed to radioactive iodine

A case-control study found a strong dose-response relationship between radiation dose and thyroid cancer risk, with iodine-deficient areas showing three times the risk. Stable iodine supplementation was associated with one-third the risk of radiation-related thyroid cancer compared to no supplementation.

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateMay 17, 2005

Epilepsy by the numbers

Researchers have developed a mathematical way to translate brain wave readings into simple terms to help doctors identify newborns at risk for epilepsy. The new tool uses quantitative EEG analysis to pinpoint abnormal brain activity in real-time.

Unrestrained retina too much of a good thing

Researchers at the Salk Institute found that the retina is the default pathway for eye development in mammals, controlled by two chemical cues. This discovery has important implications for human therapy, as it highlights the need to regulate stem cell development and prevent excessive growth of the retina.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalGenes & Development·DateMay 17, 2005

Mother birds increase progesterone to hatch females

Researchers at Cornell University found that higher-than-normal progesterone levels in female chickens during the first meiosis significantly produce more females. The study suggests that female birds manipulate sex ratios to adapt to their environment and ensure the next generation has enough females to care for.

SourceCornell University·JournalBiology Letters·DateMay 17, 2005