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Science News Archive August 2008 - Page 10


Page 10 of 17

JCI online early table of contents: Aug. 14, 2008

Researchers at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have identified a protein called Hsp104 that dramatically reduces alpha-synuclein aggregation and dopaminergic degeneration in a rat model of Parkinson's disease. The study suggests that Hsp104 could be considered as a potential st...

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateAug 14, 2008

Americans spending, gambling, saving

New studies examine the link between consumer behavior and emotional well-being, finding that value seekers are happiest, while non-spenders and experiencers are also more content. Additionally, researchers discovered that moderate-income gamblers, known as 'big fish,' are at high risk of financial and psychological trouble.

Rheb's role in cancer

Researchers found Rheb overexpression is sufficient to induce low-grade prostate neoplasias and contributes to lymphoma formation. Targeted inhibition of Rheb shows promise in counteracting tumor progression in both cancers.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateAug 14, 2008

Teens underestimate risk, overestimate vehicle, highway safety in motor vehicle accidents

Research reveals teens' flawed attitudes towards trauma-related injuries, prioritizing fate over choice. Program participation improved risk perception, but knowledge decayed over time. Emotional connections with injured peers and reflection components played a crucial role in sustaining long-term changes.

SourceWeber Shandwick Worldwide·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateAug 14, 2008

New theory for latest high-temperature superconductors

Physicists from Rice and Rutgers universities have published a new theory explaining the complex electronic and magnetic properties of iron pnictides. The research suggests that pnictides exhibit magnetic frustration, which enhances magnetic quantum fluctuations and may be responsible for high-temperature superconductivity.

SourceRice University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateAug 13, 2008

SAGE to publish Journal of Dental Research beginning in 2009

The International Association for Dental Research and American Association for Dental Research have partnered with SAGE to publish the Journal of Dental Research beginning in 2009. The journal will expand its reach through SAGE's marketing capabilities and consortia deals.

SourceSAGE·JournalJournal of Dental Research·DateAug 13, 2008

Keeping an eye on the surroundings

Scientists have successfully detected changes in protein-water networks during protein folding using terahertz absorption spectroscopy. This technique allows for the observation of protein dynamics on a picosecond time scale, revealing new insights into the complex interactions between proteins and water molecules.

SourceWiley·DateAug 13, 2008

Climate change threatens 1 in 5 plant species

Researchers from Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research and Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research found that climate change may impact the distribution of European plant species. Under moderate climate change and limited land use changes, up to 11% of species could lose more than two-thirds of their current ranges.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalBiology Letters·DateAug 13, 2008

Smells like bees' spirit

Scientists have discovered that bumblebees choose whether to search for food according to how stocked their nests are. The team used RFID technology to track the activity of bees in the lab and found that colonies with low food reserves had a stronger response to pheromones, leading to more worker bees becoming active.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalBehavioral Ecology and Sociobiology·DateAug 13, 2008

Sky islands: metaphor or misnomer?

A new study using ecological niche modeling found that small mammals on mountaintops in the Great Basin are not as isolated as previously believed. The research used climate data to 'backcast' species distributions at the height of the last ice age, finding most species lived at lower elevations and had larger ranges.

SourceAmerican Museum of Natural History·JournalJournal of Biogeography·DateAug 13, 2008