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Science News Archive July 2007 - Page 8


Page 8 of 16

New study examines effectiveness of tailored health messages

A new study by Dr. John Updegraff and colleagues found that tailored health messages are more effective when matching an individual's motivational orientation, leading to favorable attitudes and behavior change. Strong messages create more positive outcomes than weak ones, particularly for approach-oriented individuals.

SourceKent State University·JournalJournal of Experimental Social Psychology·DateJul 17, 2007

Progress in infectious disease surveillance but gaps remain, says Mailman School of Public Health

A paper by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health highlights the need for enhanced global infectious disease surveillance due to resource constraints. The authors recommend increasing resources for compatible reporting systems, providing additional support, and educating policymakers on disease surveillance as a priority.

Monkeys don't go for easy pickings

Primates use cognitive abilities to select food sources based on resource quality and social group needs. The study found that white-faced saki monkeys traveled four times further than predicted distances to choose fruit-rich sites, prioritizing the group's dominance and competition.

SourceSpringer·JournalAnimal Cognition·DateJul 17, 2007

SMS your ECG to ER

A wearable cardiac telemedicine system allows post-cardiac patients renewed mobility by recording periodic ECGs and transmitting them via SMS. This device can give patients a greater chance of receiving life-saving treatment within the golden hour period.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Electronic Healthcare·DateJul 17, 2007

Ability to listen to 2 things at once is largely inherited, says twin study

A twin study published by the NIH/NIDCD found that a person's ability to process multiple sounds simultaneously is largely inherited. The researchers discovered that identical twins were more similar in their dichotic listening abilities, with a strong genetic component responsible for up to 73% of the variation.

Foxes get frisky in the far north

A recent study by the University of Alberta reveals that some Arctic foxes engage in polyandry, where females have multiple male mates, and multiple paternity, leading to increased genetic variation. This finding challenges previous notions of monogamous mating habits in canid species.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalCanadian Journal of Zoology·DateJul 17, 2007

University of Pennsylvania engineers discover natural 'workbench' for nanoscale construction

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have identified a naturally occurring material that can be used as a template for building nanodevices. The discovery, published in Nature Materials, provides a simpler method for creating nanostructures by leveraging the spontaneous phase separation of a ceramic material at the nanoscale.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalNature Materials·DateJul 17, 2007

Study shows no change in sense of taste after tonsil removal

A study of 65 tonsillectomy patients found no ongoing dysfunction in their sense of taste after surgery. Despite average ratings of taste and smell decreasing post-surgery, none reported persistent problems, suggesting other factors like pain or discomfort may influence ratings.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery·DateJul 16, 2007

Surgical technique helps to reanimate paralyzed faces

Researchers report successful outcomes for a surgical technique called temporalis tendon transfer, which helps reanimate facial paralysis with high patient satisfaction rates. The procedure resulted in improved form and function, with movement in mouth muscles identified in all patients after treatment.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Facial Plastic Surgery·DateJul 16, 2007

Penn researchers identify new combination therapy that promotes cancer cell death

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine identified a combination therapy that selectively eliminates cancer cells while leaving healthy cells intact. The therapy combines TRAIL and sorafenib, reducing tumor size in mice with few side effects, demonstrating its potential effectiveness on human colon cancers.

Nano propellers pump with proper chemistry

Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago created a theoretical blueprint for assembling a nanoscale propeller with molecule-sized blades. The propeller's efficiency in pumping liquids is highly sensitive to its chemical and biological composition, finding that hydrophobic blades pump more water while hydrophilic blades become ...

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 16, 2007