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Science News Archive November 2007 - Page 13


Page 13 of 19

Paying peanuts for clean water

Researchers have found that peanut husks can extract up to 95% of copper ions from waste water, while pine sawdust achieves only 44% extraction. The process works best at slightly acidic conditions, making it a promising solution for reducing toxic copper levels in natural resources

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Environment and Pollution·DateNov 8, 2007

Cosmic ray mystery solved?

A study by scientists has found that the most energetic particles in the universe – ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays – are correlated with the centers of active galaxies hosting violent black holes. The sources are thought to be within 326 million light years, our local neighborhood in cosmic terms.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalScience·DateNov 8, 2007

Atrogin breaks down the side effects of statins

Researchers identified atrogin-1 as a key factor in statin-induced muscle damage, which can be prevented by inhibiting its function. This breakthrough may lead to new treatments for high cholesterol patients experiencing unwanted side effects.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateNov 8, 2007

UBC researchers discover 'instruction manual' that tells cancers how to hide from immune system

Researchers at UBC discover a process called chromatin remodeling that allows certain cancer cells to hide from the immune system by altering the structure of chromosomes. This 'instruction manual' enables cancer cells to evade detection and grow unchecked, but the discovery may lead to new therapies within five to 10 years.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalMolecular and Cellular Biology·DateNov 8, 2007

Emotional eaters susceptible to weight regain

A new study found that dieters who eat in response to emotions, rather than social situations, tend to lose less weight and experience more weight regain. Emotional eating was associated with lower weight loss and higher likelihood of regaining weight in successful losers.

SourceLifespan·JournalObesity·DateNov 8, 2007

A dynamical systems hypothesis of schizophrenia

Researchers developed a top-down analytical approach to understand schizophrenia's symptom inconsistencies, linking them to instability in attractor neural networks. The study suggests that decreased excitatory NMDA-mediated synaptically activated receptor conductances contribute to attention difficulties and reduced emotions.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateNov 8, 2007

Which is the most talkative gender? It all depends

A meta-analysis of decades of scientific study reveals a small but statistically reliable tendency for men to be more talkative than women overall, especially in conversations with strangers. Women tend to dominate conversations with children and close friends, while using speech to build connections with listeners.

SourceSAGE·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Review·DateNov 8, 2007

The genetic basis of inbreeding avoidance in house mice

A new study reveals that wild house mice rely on specialized protein signals in their urine to recognize and avoid close relatives. The researchers found that these proteins serve as a genetic barcode, allowing animals to identify and reject potential mates based on their unique scent profiles.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateNov 8, 2007

International team compares 12 fruit fly genomes

Researchers compared 12 closely related fruit fly species to better understand genetic adaptation, immune systems and gene regulation. The study, led by Cornell University, found evidence of evolutionary pressures on genes and regulatory elements that control diseases, development and behavior.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature·DateNov 8, 2007

Yellowstone rising

Scientists at the University of Utah report that Yellowstone's caldera floor has risen by almost 3 inches per year for three years, with a total uplift of 7 inches during the past 30 months. This rate is more than three times faster than previous observations and may be due to an injection of a Los Angeles-sized blob of molten rock.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalScience·DateNov 8, 2007

Adult brain cells are movers and shakers

A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine reveals a subset of adult brain cells that can exhibit dynamic behavior, including elongation and morphing, unlike traditional adult axons. This discovery opens up new avenues for understanding neural recovery following stroke or other brain trauma.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalNeuron·DateNov 8, 2007

Researchers' discovery may lead to hypertension treatment

Researchers at Cornell University have identified a hormone in human urine that can safely reduce sodium levels and treat hypertension. The discovery was made possible by a new technique developed by Frank Schroeder, which allows for the analysis of complex mixtures of small molecules.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 8, 2007

JCI table of contents: Nov. 8, 2007

Research reveals that statins cause skeletal muscle damage through the activity of the gene atrogin-1. Inhibiting this gene's function could help protect against the side effect. Separate studies also link low levels of protein SHGB to metabolic syndrome and show how excess sugar contributes to its development.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateNov 8, 2007

Sex, sugar and metabolic disease

A study reveals that excess sugar consumption decreases SHGB production in the liver, a protein regulating sex steroid entry into tissues. This reduction is associated with increased fat palmitate levels and inhibited by inhibiting palmitate generation.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateNov 8, 2007

Smile, protons, you're on camera

A team of scientists, led by Marek Pfutzner, has successfully peered closely at the radioactive decay of a rare iron isotope, shedding light on an exotic form of radioactivity. The technique used a novel combination of advanced physics equipment and digital camera technology to capture ghostly images of trajectories of emitted protons.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 8, 2007

A new mathematical formula for cancer progression

Researchers at Harvard and Johns Hopkins Universities developed a new paradigm in calculating tumor development, finding that it's driven by mutations in hundreds of genes. The study suggests that individual tumors can be driven by up to 20 mutated genes, leading to better understanding and potential new treatments for cancer.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateNov 8, 2007

Mitochondria send death signal to cardiac cells, study shows

Researchers at Ohio State University Medical Center found that the mitochondria send a death signal to cardiac cells when blood flow is restored, leading to cell damage and weakening heart function. The study identifies a specific enzyme, mitochondrial nitric oxide synthase, as a potential therapeutic target to stop this process.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology·DateNov 8, 2007

Finding may eventually help tailor treatment for depression

A new genetic study from the University of Iowa found that women are more likely than men to have altered serotonin processes related to depression. The study, which analyzed data from 192 individuals, suggests that genetic variations may play a role in tailoring antidepressant treatment for individual responders.

SourceUniversity of Iowa·JournalAmerican Journal of Medical Genetics·DateNov 7, 2007

Comparative analyses of 12 fly genomes reveals new insights on genome evolution and regulation

The study of 12 Drosophila genomes provides novel insights into microRNA (miRNA) regulation, identifying 59 new miRNAs and revealing greater diversity in their role in gene expression. The analysis also reveals emergent gene function and post-transcriptional regulation mechanisms, with potential applications in human disease research.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenome Research·DateNov 7, 2007