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Science News for September 11, 2007


Higher education is associated with lower cancer death rate

A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that higher education levels are associated with decreased cancer mortality rates among black and white men and women. The difference in mortality was greatest between those with 12 or fewer years of education and those with more than 12 years. This association is ...

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateSep 11, 2007

Biological invasions can begin with just 1 insect

A study by York University biologists Amro Zayed and Laurence Packer found that a single mated female solitary bee is likely the founder of an invasive population. This contradicts the 'propagule pressure hypothesis,' which suggests that more individuals introduced to an area lead to a higher success rate of invasion.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateSep 11, 2007

Soft drinks alone do not affect children's weight

A recent study published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition found no evidence that soft drinks alone contribute to children's weight gain. Instead, researchers discovered that overweight children consumed more food overall and had a greater tendency towards savory rather than sweet foods.

SourceSugar Nutrition UK·JournalInternational Journal of Food Science and Nutrition·DateSep 11, 2007

Shape encoding may start in the retina

Researchers found evidence that the two sides of the retina interact to enhance shape recognition, coordinating their responses with unexpected temporal precision. This study challenges the traditional view that communication between brain hemispheres is necessary for shape recognition.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateSep 11, 2007

Penn State supplies NASA to the Schools

Penn State has taken over NASA's Aerospace Education Services Program, shifting its focus from one-time school visits to university-based summer courses. The program aims to make science come alive in students and teachers across the nation, using innovative technologies like GeoWall.

Aspartame is safe, study says

A comprehensive review of over 500 studies on aspartame found no evidence of cancer, neurological damage, or other adverse effects. The study suggests that aspartame is safe at current levels of consumption and may even aid in weight control and sugar-free diets.

SourceKellen Communications·JournalCritical Reviews in Toxicology·DateSep 11, 2007

Personal chaos in HIV patients' lives may be a barrier to regular medical care, UCLA Study Shows

A new UCLA study reveals that unstable lifestyles and lack of organization in HIV patients' lives can act as a barrier to regular medical care. The researchers developed a six-item scale to gauge the level of chaos in an adult's life, which found those with more chaos scored higher on the scale and had lower mental health status.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateSep 11, 2007

China's eye on the Internet

Researchers at UC Davis developed ConceptDoppler, a tool that clusters words by meaning and identifies keywords likely to be blacklisted in China's censorship system. The study found that keyword filtering encourages self-censorship due to the perception of surveillance, allowing users to avoid blocked topics.

A POX on syn

The POX method produces high-temperature and pressure synthesis gas, enabling ten times more power generation and lower exergy losses compared to conventional methods. This process can drive a gas turbine for power generation and is more compact than existing steam turbine systems.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Exergy·DateSep 11, 2007

Study links education to risk of cancer death

A new American Cancer Society study reveals that having at least some education beyond high school is associated with a decreased risk of cancer death. The study found stronger associations between higher education levels and lower cancer mortality among black men, white men, and white women.

SourceAmerican Cancer Society·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateSep 11, 2007

New mechanism discovered for DNA recombination and repair

RecA family proteins have been found to function as rotary motor proteins to repair DNA damages through a novel mechanism. This discovery opens up new avenues for understanding the molecular mechanisms of RecA family proteins and their roles in cell proliferation, genome maintenance, and genetic diversity.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateSep 11, 2007

'Fetal' neurons play role in adult brain

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine discovered that approximately 10% of subplate neurons survive into adulthood and maintain functional connections. These cells generate electrical signals and receive inputs from neighboring neurons, undergoing plasticity to adapt to experience and activity.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalNeuroscience·DateSep 11, 2007