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Science News Archive July 2008 - Page 17


Page 17 of 20

Can recycling be used to treat cancer?

Scientists discovered a compound, STF-62247, that induces autophagy in VHL-deficient kidney cancer cells, leading to selective cell death. This finding represents a new direction for targeted therapy against kidney cancer.

SourceCell Press·JournalCancer Cell·DateJul 7, 2008

98 percent of elective mastectomy patients would have reconstruction again, says ASPS study

A recent ASPS study found that women who have breast reconstruction after an elective mastectomy are satisfied with their decision and have low complication rates. The study revealed a 98% satisfaction rate among patients who had bilateral prophylactic mastectomy, with 100% willing to undergo the procedure again.

SourceAmerican Society of Plastic Surgeons·JournalPlastic & Reconstructive Surgery·DateJul 7, 2008

Creating a new approach to archiving human genetic information

A new approach to archiving human genetic information is introduced through Gene Wiki, an online repository of human genes stored within Wikipedia. This community-annotated system allows for a flexible and organic accumulation of science, enabling all readers to edit and add to the gene wiki pages.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJul 7, 2008

US firms a role model for fair hiring standards, study says

A new study by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign finds that US-based companies tend to follow their home-country hiring standards when doing business abroad, even in countries without anti-discrimination laws. This results in lower rates of gender and age discrimination compared to European and Asian firms.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of International Business Studies·DateJul 7, 2008

Political borders, health-care issues complicate pandemic planning

A new report from Purdue University highlights the complexities of pandemic planning, citing issues with staffing, geographic boundaries, and community coordination. The study found that counties with shared borders may experience influxes of non-residents seeking medical care, while others may be isolated due to lack of hospital systems.

SourcePurdue University·JournalJournal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management·DateJul 7, 2008

Schizophrenia linked to dysfunction in molecular brain pathway activated by marijuana

A University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study found that individuals with schizophrenia have lower levels of a key neurotransmitter GABA, which is impaired by the activation of the cannabinoid 1 receptor activated by marijuana. This impairment worsens cognitive symptoms and may lead to new drug targets for improved treatments.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalArchives of General Psychiatry·DateJul 7, 2008

Overweight, insulin resistant women at greater risk of advanced breast cancer diagnosis, says study

Research conducted by University of Melbourne's Dr Anne Cust and colleagues found that overweight and insulin-resistant women are about 50% more likely to be diagnosed with an advanced stage of breast cancer. The study, published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, tracked over 60,000 Swedish women for 20 years.

SourceUniversity of Melbourne·JournalBreast Cancer Research and Treatment·DateJul 7, 2008

Can you hear me now?

Researchers discovered a record number of tyrosine kinase genes in Monosiga brevicollis, a single-celled microbe. The microbe's signaling network is more diverse and elaborate than found in any multicellular organism.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 7, 2008

Study: perception of hole size influenced by performance

A study found that golfers who play well perceive the hole as larger than those who don't. The researchers believe this is a cyclical relationship, where better performance leads to seeing the hole as bigger, which in turn improves putting accuracy. The findings suggest that focusing on the hole can help golfers see it more clearly.

SourcePurdue University·JournalPsychonomic Bulletin & Review·DateJul 7, 2008

A baby's smile is a natural high

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine discovered that mothers' brains respond uniquely to their own infants' faces, particularly when smiling. This finding could help scientists understand the neural basis of mother-infant attachment and how it sometimes goes wrong.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalPEDIATRICS·DateJul 7, 2008

China's policies treasure both environment and people

Two large environmental programs in China have shown success in balancing human needs with environmental conservation, converting cropland to forests and reducing soil erosion. The programs offer alternative livelihoods for farmers and promote global carbon sequestration, but face challenges that require local involvement and funding.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 7, 2008

Guidelines for care of elderly patients ignored

Research published in BMC Health Services Research found that only a small minority of eligible elderly patients receive recommended treatments for obstructive respiratory diseases. The study revealed significant disparities in care, including low rates of bronchodilator inhaler use and lung function exams.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Health Services Research·DateJul 7, 2008

Relationship violence appears common among college students

A survey of 910 college students found that almost half had experienced physical, emotional, or sexual violence in a relationship. Emotional abuse was the most common type of violence, and researchers emphasize the importance of early educational efforts on healthy relationships to prevent poor outcomes.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine·DateJul 7, 2008

New insight to demineralization

Scientists at Virginia Tech have found a novel mechanism for demineralization of noncrystalline silicas, which can dissolve up to 100 times faster than expected. This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of biomedical implants and synthetic materials with bone-like properties.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 7, 2008

From the mountains to the coast

The Alfred Wegener Institute has inherited the World Radiation Monitoring Center, providing climate research with accurate meteorological data. The archive contains baseline energy conversion of solar radiation and thermal radiation data from around the world.

Lay your eggs here

Researchers found that female mosquitoes are attracted to water containers with specific fatty acids and methyl esters from bacteria, which stimulate them to lay eggs. The study aims to use this knowledge to devise lures and traps to control yellow fever mosquito populations, preventing global diseases like dengue fever.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 7, 2008