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Science News Archive April 2007 - Page 14


Page 14 of 17

Females do best if they wait a while

A study by researchers at the University of Bristol found that female woodhoopoes that started breeding later in life produced more offspring than those that started earlier. The researchers attributed this to a high mortality rate among young females, suggesting they were not yet in optimal condition to breed.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalCurrent Biology·DateApr 5, 2007

Fascinating spider silk

Researchers at the Technical University of Munich have successfully produced genetically engineered spider silk protein using genetic engineering, revealing crucial insights into the spinning process. The study found that the interaction between hydrophilic and lipophilic properties of the proteins plays a key role in thread formation.

SourceWiley·DateApr 5, 2007

Why small dogs are small

Researchers have identified a piece of doggy DNA that reduces growth in small breeds, ensuring they stay small. The study found a haplotype in all breeds of small dogs, suggesting it is a major contributor to body size.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalScience·DateApr 5, 2007

JCI table of contents -- April 5, 2007

Researchers at Vanderbilt University found that treatment with TGF-beta inhibitors may help prevent cancer metastasis in patients. Additionally, a study from the University of Michigan discovered that a negative feedback pathway involving leptin receptor signaling may contribute to leptin resistance in obese individuals.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateApr 5, 2007

Biofuels: More than just ethanol

The study found that certain biofuel crops, such as switchgrass and hybrid poplar, can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 85% compared to gasoline and diesel. These crops also offset the largest amounts of fossil fuels reduced emissions when used for electricity generation via biomass gasification.

SourceEcological Society of America·JournalEcological Applications·DateApr 5, 2007

New research in Psychological Science

Researchers found that adults exhibit a 'curse-of-knowledge bias' when reasoning about false beliefs, with their own knowledge influencing their ability to reason. Additionally, age affects false memory development, with children showing improved performance at older ages. The study also discovered a circadian rhythm in central process...

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateApr 5, 2007

The plague as a weapon?

Bubonic plague has a mortality rate of 50-90 ty, while pneumonic plague can be fatal in most cases. A Yersinia Pestis strain in Madagascar shows multiple antimicrobial resistance, making treatment challenging.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateApr 5, 2007

Promising new drug for HIV

A new antiretroviral drug darunavir has been shown to be highly effective in treating HIV when used in conjunction with a boosting dose of the existing drug ritonavir. The study found that 61% of patients taking the new drug achieved a ten-fold drop in HIV RNA levels, compared to just 15% of those on the control group.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateApr 4, 2007

News tips from ACS Chemical Biology

The journal reveals how changing protein charges enables cell membrane passage and introduces an enzyme's role in synthesizing antibiotics against resistant bacteria. Additionally, researchers develop artificial methods to induce keratinocytes' differentiation, providing insight into diseases like psoriasis and basal cell carcinoma.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Chemical Biology·DateApr 4, 2007

Mechanism of nicotine's learning effects explored

Researchers discovered how nicotine adjusts neuronal wiring to enhance memory, including effects on GABAergic neurons and calcium-mediated signaling. This work provides insights into the mechanism of nicotine's learning-enhancing effects, which may lead to development of new treatments for cognitive deficits.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateApr 4, 2007

Measuring the brain's 'rich switch'

Neurobiologists found that richer individuals are slower to learn associating a stimulus with financial reward, leading to slower brain responses in reward areas. The study also measured marginal utility of money, finding greater wealth reduces the likelihood of picking up coins on the street.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateApr 4, 2007

Supernova impostor goes supernova

Astronomers observed a massive star suffering a double whammy, with the star surviving one outburst before exploding as Supernova 2006jc. The study found that the supernova's blast wave interacted with material ejected by the star two years earlier, indicating a unique stellar evolution process.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateApr 4, 2007

Multivitamins improve birth outcomes among children born to HIV-negative women

A study found that daily multivitamin supplements given to HIV-negative pregnant women in Tanzania significantly reduced the risks of low birth weight and a small-for-gestational age birth size. The results suggest that enhancing micronutrient status during pregnancy has significant benefits on maternal immunity and hemoglobin levels.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateApr 4, 2007

Heart failure: Intervention possibilities from imaging programmed cell loss

A new nuclear medicine technique using annexin A5 imaging may help identify individuals at risk of developing heart failure by detecting programmed cell loss in the heart muscle. This could lead to earlier intervention and improved treatment options, as cell death is a key factor in worsening left ventricular events.

SourceSociety of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·JournalJournal of Nuclear Medicine·DateApr 3, 2007

Working up potential living liver donors

A 4-step process can be completed quickly and efficiently to assess potential living liver donors. Despite challenges, the process results in a significant proportion of donors undergoing successful transplantation, emphasizing the importance of careful workup and informed consent.

SourceWiley·JournalLiver Transplantation·DateApr 3, 2007

Study suggests some drug resistance to influenza B medications

A recent study in Japan found partial resistance to neuraminidase inhibitors among influenza B viruses, which may have implications for treatment and prevention strategies. The emergence of these resistant variants poses a significant concern, as they can cause infections with no difference in duration or clinical outcome.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateApr 3, 2007

Flies don't buzz about aimlessly!

Researchers found that fruit flies' flight patterns are optimal for searching, using scale-free movement with intermittent turns. This behavior is also observed in other animals, including humans and crickets, suggesting a unified theory for finding food.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 3, 2007