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Science News Archive March 2008 - Page 5


Page 5 of 19

Partners can help or hinder attempts at changing diet

A study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that significant others generally play a positive and supportive role in diet changes, with some facilitating the change through their own dietary habits or providing motivation. However, these positive roles varied widely in terms of impact on changers' experie...

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Nutrition Education and Behavior·DateMar 25, 2008

Giant ocean eddy shadows Sydney

A new 300km diameter giant ocean eddy has emerged off the NSW coast, with scientists tracing its birth to last August. The cold water at the new eddy's centre has welled up about 500m from the ocean depths, providing valuable insights into ocean forecasting systems.

Artificial photosynthesis moves a step closer

Researchers at Jülich and Emory University have synthesized a stable inorganic metal oxide cluster that enables the fast and effective oxidation of water to oxygen. This breakthrough could contribute to solving energy and climate problems by producing hydrogen from renewable sources using artificial photosynthesis.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateMar 25, 2008

Satellites help map soil carbon flux

Scientists integrated remote sensing products with soil science data to quantify soil carbon changes over large regions. The study results in a spatially-explicit carbon accounting framework that can predict future land use and inform enhanced land management data sets.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalSoil Science Society of America Journal·DateMar 25, 2008

Antisocial conduct and decision making about aggressive behavior influence each other in teens

A new study challenges the idea that antisocial behavior is relatively unchangeable during the teenage years. The study found that decision making and behavior among adolescents are related across time, with efforts to help being more effective if they address how adolescents make decisions about acting aggressively.

SourceSociety for Research in Child Development·JournalChild Development·DateMar 25, 2008

The conflict of reward in depression

A new study using fMRI found that people with depression show increased activation in the anterior cingulate region when anticipating reward, indicating a conflict between processing rewards and punishments. This finding suggests that depression may not be solely the absence of pleasure, but rather an experience of emotional pain or fr...

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateMar 25, 2008

Boeing's Phantom Works arrives in Australia

CSIRO welcomes Boeing's establishment of Phantom Works, a branch of its advanced research organization, to foster innovation and growth. The partnership aims to develop breakthrough technologies in aerospace solutions, including lightweight composite materials and intelligent vehicle health monitoring.

Corn's roots dig deeper into South America

Researchers have discovered evidence of maize consumption in tropical Ecuador dating back over 5,000 years. The findings suggest that corn was a vital food crop for villages in the region, contradicting previous theories that it was only used for ritual purposes.

SourceUniversity of Calgary·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 24, 2008

When should children infected with HIV start medication

The article discusses the controversy surrounding when to initiate antiretroviral treatment in children with HIV. Dr. Steven Welch argues for deferred treatment to avoid poor adherence habits and drug resistance, while Professor Di Gibb advocates for early initiation to prevent disease progression and promote healthy growth.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateMar 24, 2008

Too much information? Study shows how ignorance can be influential

Researchers Isabelle Brocas and Juan D. Carrillo present a situation where one party controls public opinion despite having access to the same information as others. This phenomenon, known as 'influence through ignorance,' occurs when power comes from controlling the flow of public information rather than possessing private information.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalThe RAND Journal of Economics·DateMar 24, 2008

Social contacts and mixing patterns

A study of 7,290 participants in eight European countries identified patterns of person-to-person contact relevant to controlling the spread of infectious diseases. Statins impair antitumor effects of rituximab and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against B cell lymphoma cells.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateMar 24, 2008

MRI: A window to genetic properties of brain tumors

Researchers have shown that MRI can non-invasively characterize brain tumors and determine which are responsive to specific treatments based on their molecular properties. The study identified five distinct MRI features linked with particular gene expression patterns, including those associated with tumor proliferation and growth.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 24, 2008

JAMA editor-in-chief comments on Pfizer lawsuit

A recent court ruling supported JAMA and Archives of Internal Medicine in their opposition to Pfizer's subpoena for confidential information regarding COX-2 inhibitors. The subpoenas sought documents related to the decision-making process, but the court ruled that this information was irrelevant to the pending claims.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateMar 24, 2008

OHSU Cancer Institute researchers identify new approach to help control drug resistance in leukemia

OHSU Cancer Institute researchers found that SGX393 is effective against Gleevec-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) by inhibiting T315I mutant and most, but not all, other Gleevec-resistant mutants. The combination of SGX393 with Sprycel or Tasigna completely suppressed resistance in a pre-clinical study.

SourceOregon Health & Science University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 24, 2008

Birth of an enzyme

Researchers designed an enzyme for a specific reaction using computational design, but the synthetic enzyme was less efficient than naturally occurring ones. However, by allowing the enzyme to undergo 'evolution in a test tube,' they were able to improve its efficiency 200-fold and increase reaction rates by a million-fold.