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Science News for June 6, 2008


Circadian math: 1 plus 1 doesn't always equal 2

A new study reveals that short-wavelength light, like natural blue sky light, is highly effective at stimulating the human circadian system. Exposure to multiple wavelengths of light simultaneously can result in less total stimulation compared to viewing individual colors separately, a phenomenon known as spectral opponency.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalNeuroscience Letters·DateJun 6, 2008

Should medical researchers share their results with the volunteers in their studies?

A new review suggests that participants' desire for transparency outweighs bioethicists' concerns about potential negative psychological consequences. Volunteers generally want access to aggregate study results and some individual results if relevant to their lives. However, individual results can be overwhelming and expensive to provide.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalPublication Library and Information Science·DateJun 6, 2008

Crystal clear savings for drug giants

A new technology developed by University of Leeds engineers can monitor crystals as they form in drug manufacture, providing a method to ensure production of desired drug compounds. This can lead to huge delays and costly challenges for drug companies, but the technology has enormous commercial potential.

Brazil's biotech firms: From imitators to innovators in health-related products

Brazil is transitioning from imitator to innovator in health-related products, with several small and medium-sized enterprises succeeding in developing innovative products. Despite facing challenges such as regulatory barriers and limited access to private equity, Brazil's biotech industry has the scientific capacity to become a major ...

SourceSandra Rotman Centre for Global Health·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateJun 6, 2008

Caltech scientists decipher the neurological basis of timely movement

Researchers have discovered that the brain uses a forward model to generate predictions about future movements, allowing for rapid and accurate control. This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of neural prosthetic devices and could one day enable people with paralysis to control their limbs through thought.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 6, 2008

Scientific information largely ignored when forming opinions about stem cell research

Public attitudes toward embryonic stem cell research are influenced more by religious values and deference to scientific authority than scientific knowledge. For highly religious audiences, understanding the science has no effect on their views, while for less religious individuals, it is linked to more positive attitudes.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalInternational Journal of Public Opinion Research·DateJun 6, 2008

Higher co-payments reduce use of antidepressants

New research from Brandeis University finds that multi-tiered formularies requiring higher copayments for non-preferred medications reduce the use of antidepressants. The study, which analyzed data from a large nonprofit managed care organization, found that out-of-pocket spending increased while health plan spending per user decreased.

SourceBrandeis University·JournalThe Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics·DateJun 6, 2008