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Science News Archive February 2006 - Page 13


Page 13 of 15

Older adults more vulnerable to distraction from irrelevant information

A study by Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care found that older adults are more easily distracted due to gradual brain changes beginning in middle age. The researchers used fMRI to scan the brains of three age groups, including young adults, middle-aged adults, and older adults, revealing a seesaw imbalance in frontal lobe areas.

SourceBaycrest Centre for Geriatric Care·JournalJournal of Cognitive Neuroscience·DateFeb 6, 2006

New brain hormone puts brakes on reproduction

Researchers discovered a new brain hormone GnIH that directly inhibits the action of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), stimulating the reproductive system. This finding suggests that GnIH plays a similar role in humans and other mammals, offering potential new treatments for infertility and precocious puberty.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 6, 2006

Chance, music, and the ear of the beholder

A team of scientists found that individual neurons in the auditory cortex respond more strongly to stimuli conforming to the 1/f rule than to others. This selective sensitivity leads to a more accurate representation of natural sounds within the brain.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateFeb 6, 2006

More training needed to ensure accuracy of urine drug tests

A survey of primary care physicians found that only 23% used effective urine sample collection methods, while 40% were unsure about poppy seeds causing positive opioid test results. Misinterpretation of false-positive findings can lead to false accusations and diminished trust among parents, schools, and counselors.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine·DateFeb 6, 2006

Elsevier launches High Energy Density Physics

High Energy Density Physics is a new journal launched by Elsevier to publish research on extreme conditions, including planetary interiors and astrophysical phenomena. The journal aims to provide a platform for scientists to study material properties and hydrodynamics under high-energy density regimes.

SourceElsevier·JournalHigh Energy Density Physics·DateFeb 6, 2006

Link discovered between depression and changes in the brain in Alzheimer's disease

A study found that Alzheimer's patients with a history of depression have more rapid cognitive decline and greater brain changes, including tangles and plaques in the hippocampus. The findings suggest that identifying potential mechanisms linking geriatric depression to AD may lead to new treatment strategies.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalArchives of General Psychiatry·DateFeb 6, 2006

Study finds significant reduction in respiratory illnesses in babies breastfed six months vs. four

A recent study found that babies breastfed for six months have a significant reduction in respiratory illnesses, including pneumonia and ear infections. The study's lead author says the findings support the recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for six months, which also provides protection against gastrointestinal infections.

Methadone therapy - one dose does not fit all

A new study found that effective methadone doses vary widely among patients, with some achieving abstinence on as little as 1.5 mg and others requiring up to 191.2 mg. Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, or a history of previous detoxifications from heroin tend to require higher doses.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateFeb 6, 2006

Bank of America grant to expand community-based childhood immunization program in northern Manhattan

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation grant enables the Mailman School of Public Health's Northern Manhattan Start Right Coalition to scale up its community-based childhood immunization program. The program has seen a significant improvement in immunization rates, with an 80.5% current rate for children aged 19-35 months, exceeding...

New faster screening test for MRSA

A new screening method, qMRSA, was tested on 1,053 patients in Geneva University Hospital. The study found that qMRSA significantly reduced the time to get MRSA test results from 87 hours to 21 hours, and isolated infected patients immediately after detection, which substantially decreased MRSA infections in the medical ICU.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalCritical Care·DateFeb 5, 2006

Spyware poses a significant threat on the Net

A new study by University of Washington researchers found that more than one in 20 executable files contain piggybacked spyware, with game and celebrity sites posing the greatest risk. Drive-by download attacks also frequent pirated software sites. The density of spyware decreased from spring to fall last year but remained substantial.

Detection of hot halo gets theory out of hot water

Astronomers detect a vast hot halo extending over 60,000 light years around the massive spiral galaxy NGC 5746. This discovery resolves a long-standing issue in galaxy formation theory, suggesting that large spiral galaxies should be immersed in halos of hot gas left over from the galaxy formation process.

SourceChandra X-ray Center·JournalNew Astronomy·DateFeb 3, 2006