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Science News Archive 2005 - Page 51


Page 51 of 165

APS physics tip sheet #53

New research from Rice University suggests the immune system's mild inefficiency may lead to autoimmune diseases, as its mechanisms for developing antibodies could also attack healthy cells. Ancient neutrinos created in the early universe may provide evidence for or against string theory and quantum loop gravity.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 14, 2005

Black hole in search of a home

Astronomers observed quasars with the VLT and HST to detect host galaxies, but found that one quasar, HE0450-2958, has no massive galaxy. Instead, they detected a bright cloud of gas ionized by the quasar's radiation, which may be feeding the black hole.

SourceESO·JournalNature·DateSep 14, 2005

Purdue scientists treat cancer with RNA nanotechnology

Researchers have developed RNA nanoparticles that can carry multiple therapeutic agents into specific cancer cells, where they can halt viral growth or cancer progression. The tiny particles are assembled from three short pieces of ribonucleic acid and possess the right size and structure to gain entry into cells.

SourcePurdue University·JournalNano Letters·DateSep 14, 2005

Canadian Institutes of Health Research, GlaxoSmithKline Inc. and University of Ottawa partner to fund the new J. David Grimes Research Chair

The new J. David Grimes Research Chair at the University of Ottawa will explore brain cell function to advance understanding and treatment of neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and depression. The chair is named after Dr. J. David Grimes, founder of the Loeb Research Institute, who made signifi...

Secrets of the whale riders

A five-year study by University of Utah biologists reveals that giant whales split into three species around 5-6 million years ago, and all three were equally abundant before whaling reduced their numbers. The study used the genetics of whale lice to track the genetic evolution of whales.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalMolecular Ecology·DateSep 13, 2005

Less virulent strains of avian influenza can infect humans

Researchers in Italy found that low pathogenic avian influenza strains can infect humans, highlighting the importance of improving disease surveillance and vaccination for poultry workers. The study suggests these less virulent strains have the potential to swap genetic material with human strains, resulting in a more virulent virus.

SourceInfectious Diseases Society of America·JournalThe Journal of Infectious Diseases·DateSep 13, 2005

Birds and bats sow tropical seeds

A team of scientists, led by Henry Howe from the University of Illinois Chicago, will conduct a multi-year test to restore diversity to agricultural landscapes in Veracruz, Mexico. They aim to demonstrate that bird- and bat-dispersed seeds can connect isolated tree species, promoting species diversity.

The making of a fat cell

A study by University of Michigan researchers reveals the critical genetic switch that allows preadipocytes to become full-blown fat cells, highlighting the importance of balance in fat production. The discovery sheds new light on the role of integrin alpha 6 in regulating fat cell formation and its potential link to metabolic disorders.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Metabolism·DateSep 13, 2005

A friendly reminder for HIV patients

A study found that HIV-infected patients with mild memory loss who used the Disease Management Assistance System (DMAS) Jerry took their medication 80% of the time, compared to 65% without it. This improvement was seen in both normal and memory-impaired patients.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·DateSep 13, 2005

Tropical deforestation affects rainfall in the US and around the globe

A new study reveals that tropical deforestation affects rainfall in the US and around the globe, with significant changes observed in various regions. Deforestation in Amazonia influences precipitation in Mexico to Texas, while Central Africa affects the US Midwest, and Southeast Asia alters rainfall in China and the Balkan Peninsula.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalJournal of Hydrometeorology·DateSep 13, 2005

New treatment option for childhood cholera

A new single-dose ciprofloxacin treatment has been shown to be effective in treating childhood cholera, with 60% of cases cured within 48 hours. However, the new treatment is less effective at eradicating the cholera bacteria from stool compared to a 12-dose course of erythromycin.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateSep 13, 2005

Eating and body weight regulated by specific neurons

A study published in Nature Neuroscience reveals that AgRP neurons play a crucial role in regulating eating behavior and body weight. The research found that these neurons are essential for acute regulation of eating, and their destruction leads to anorexia and changes in blood glucose levels.

SourceYale University·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateSep 13, 2005

Native plant eaters have gourmet palates

Research at Georgia Tech suggests that native plant eaters prefer exotic meals over native plants, contradicting the enemy release hypothesis. This finding supports the 'new associations' hypothesis, which states that newly introduced plants may lack defenses against native consumers due to their evolutionary history.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalEcology Letters·DateSep 12, 2005

Free HIV medicines must be given to all, not just to some

Limiting free antiretroviral medicine access to only treatment-naïve patients puts patients at risk of adverse effects and can slow treatment enrollment. Human rights issues arise when some individuals are denied medication due to financial constraints, potentially leading to their demise.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateSep 12, 2005