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Science News for November 3, 2006


Mayo Clinic Cancer Center prostate SPORE grant renewed

The Mayo Clinic Cancer Center's Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant has been renewed for an additional five years. The grant will fund translational research projects aimed at identifying biomarkers to predict response to therapy and developing non-invasive imaging options for diagnosis and treatment.

Park your car and walk to store, school, work

A new comprehensive study by Saint Louis University researchers has identified the top 10 features of activity-friendly communities, which can help improve public health. The study's findings emphasize the importance of designing communities that encourage physical activity, such as mixed-use development, sidewalks, and bike lanes.

SourceSaint Louis University·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateNov 3, 2006

Learning how nature splits water

Scientists have derived the precise structure of a catalyst composed of four manganese atoms and one calcium atom that drives water-splitting reactions. The high-resolution structure holds promise for developing clean energy technologies that rely on sunlight to split water, enabling the production of hydrogen fuel.

Signal protein shows promise for blocking tumor promoters in skin cells

A study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry found that signal protein Srcasm can block tumor-promoting molecules in skin cells, potentially leading to targeted gene therapy for certain cancers. By increasing Srcasm levels, researchers may be able to reverse uncontrolled cell growth caused by activated Src kinases.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateNov 3, 2006

Beetle feet stick to their promises

Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Metals Research develop adhesive material mimicking beetle feet's microhairs for improved adhesion. The material exhibits excellent performance, lasting hundreds of applications and showing benefits such as no visible marks or need for cleaning.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateNov 3, 2006

Floating and spiky

Researchers use computer simulations to study the effect of adhesive patch size and density on cell adhesion. They found that protrusion height is the most critical factor, with small increases leading to faster adhesion rates.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 3, 2006

Report calls for using heated chemotherapy after colon cancer surgery to optimize patient survival

A consensus statement published in Annals of Surgical Oncology calls for heated chemotherapy after colon cancer surgery to optimize patient survival. The treatment, known as HIPEC, has shown promising results with a median survival of greater than 20 months compared to six-month survival with traditional intravenous chemotherapy.

SourceWeill Cornell Medicine·JournalAnnals of Surgical Oncology·DateNov 3, 2006