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Science News for February 26, 2007


Mistaken identity? When a white marlin may not always be a white marlin

A team of scientists has confirmed the existence of an enigmatic billfish species, the roundscale spearfish, which overlaps with the distribution of the white marlin. The discovery raises concerns about the true numbers of threatened white marlin populations and suggests that recent population assessments may have been overestimated.

Smoking may be a risk factor for tuberculosis

A meta-analysis of 24 studies found that smokers are 40-60% more likely to develop tuberculosis disease after infection, with a 73% increased risk of becoming infected. Smoking may also decrease immune response or damage airway cilia, increasing TB risk.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Internal Medicine·DateFeb 26, 2007

A climate-change amplifying mechanism

A feedback mechanism between North Atlantic and tropical hydrology of Central America amplifies the effects of climate change on oceanic circulation. This mechanism, highlighted by scientists at CEREGE1, shows that changes in oceanic circulation influence global water cycle patterns and climatic equator shifts.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature·DateFeb 26, 2007

Mellow in Europe, crazy in America

A UVM study reveals that reed canarygrass's invasive power comes from its history of multiple introductions and interbreeding with European strains, allowing it to adapt quickly to new conditions. This phenomenon has significant implications for the potential invasiveness of other horticultural and agricultural plants.

SourceUniversity of Vermont·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 26, 2007

Patients with type 1 diabetes don't wake in response to hypoglycemia

A study of patients with type 1 diabetes and healthy individuals found that only one patient with T1DM woke up in response to hypoglycemia, compared to ten healthy control participants. The researchers also discovered that increases in plasma epinephrine concentration preceded polysomnographic signs of wakefulness.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateFeb 26, 2007

Is most published research really false?

Researchers debate the validity of published research findings, exploring the role of replication in confirming hypotheses. New models suggest that probabilities for accepting false research findings depend on benefits and harms, sparking discussion on acceptable levels of error.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateFeb 26, 2007

What do we know about asthma in Africa?

The prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases has significantly increased in Ghana between 1993 and 2003. According to a study, the prevalence of exercise-induced bronchospasm and atopy doubled over this period, posing concerns for public health in West Africa.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateFeb 26, 2007

UC Davis researchers discover key to body's ability to detect subtle temperature changes

Researchers at UC Davis have made a groundbreaking discovery about the body's temperature sensing capabilities. By reassembling subunits from different ion channels, they found that there are more than six channel types responsible for sensing temperature, which could help solve the mystery of thermosensitivity in animals.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalJournal of General Physiology·DateFeb 26, 2007

How T lymphocytes attack

Researchers used two-photon microscopy to visualize T lymphocyte infiltration into solid tumours in real-time. T lymphocytes target tumour cells by recognizing the antigen and binding with enzymes, ultimately leading to cell death.

SourceCNRS·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateFeb 26, 2007

Carnegie Mellon researchers study harmful particulates

Carnegie Mellon researchers identify improved control of livestock feed, efficient nitrogen use, and low-emission fertilizers as effective strategies for reducing ammonia emissions. These measures can save $8,000 per ton in winter, making them a cheaper alternative to controlling sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide pollution.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateFeb 26, 2007

Do Internet cafés facilitate unsafe sex?

A recent survey in Peru found that men who have had anal sex without a condom in an internet café were more likely to meet their partners online. This raises concerns about the use of internet cafés as a venue for unsafe sex and potential HIV transmission.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateFeb 26, 2007

Drug industry increasingly influences breast cancer research

A study found that pharmaceutical industry-sponsored breast cancer trials are more likely to report positive results than non-sponsored studies. These trials also tend to use single-arm designs, targeting patients with advanced disease, which may not answer questions about optimal treatment outcomes.

SourceWiley·JournalCancer·DateFeb 26, 2007

Garlic does not appear to lower cholesterol levels

A six-month study found that three forms of garlic, including raw and commercial supplements, did not significantly reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in adults. The results suggest that garlic may have other beneficial health effects, but its ability to lower LDL cholesterol is uncertain.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Internal Medicine·DateFeb 26, 2007

Early Europeans unable to stomach milk

Scientists at UCL and Mainz University found that the gene controlling milk digestion was missing from Neolithic skeletons. However, through exposure to milk, lactose tolerance evolved extremely rapidly in European populations. Today, over ninety percent of northern Europeans can digest milk.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 26, 2007

The influence of the menstrual cycle on the female brain

A study using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging identified the neural networks involved in processing reward-related functions modulated by female gonadal steroid hormones. The research found that women exhibit increased reactivity in regions dealing with emotions, such as the amygdalo-hippocampal region, during the follicular phase.

SourceCNRS·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 26, 2007

How do marine turtles return to the same beach to lay their eggs?

Researchers have discovered that marine turtles use a relatively simple navigation system involving the Earth's magnetic field to return to the same egg-laying site. This allows them to correct any deflection caused by ocean currents, but may also cause them to wander at sea during adverse conditions.

SourceCNRS·JournalCurrent Biology·DateFeb 26, 2007

Early sex may lead teens to delinquency, study shows

A national study found that adolescents who had sex early showed a 20 percent increase in delinquent acts one year later compared to those whose first sexual experience occurred at the average age for their school. In contrast, those teens who waited longer than average to have sex had delinquency rates 50 percent lower.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Youth and Adolescence·DateFeb 26, 2007

Manual dishwashing study digs up dirt on dish cleanliness

A new study at Ohio State University has found that manual dishwashing can be made more efficient and effective by using cooler-than-recommended water and different sanitizing techniques. The researchers discovered that certain foods, such as cheese and milk, can harbor bacteria when dried onto dishware, while lipstick has antimicrobia...

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Food Engineering·DateFeb 26, 2007