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Science News Archive November 2008 - Page 5


Page 5 of 20

Study identifies double-balloon enteroscopy as cost-effective approach for obscure GI bleeding

Double-balloon enteroscopy is a cost-effective approach for patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, offering reduced costs and complications compared to other diagnostic methods. The study suggests that an initial capsule-directed double-balloon enteroscopy may be preferred over other options due to its potential for fewer com...

SourceAmerican Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy·JournalGastrointestinal Endoscopy·DateNov 24, 2008

Scientists shed light on evolution of gene regulation

Researchers at Penn State have discovered that not all DNA segments bound to the GATA1 protein are conserved across mammals, challenging previous assumptions. They found that 45% of these segments retain their identical form in other species, suggesting purifying selection maintains most regulatory regions.

SourcePenn State·JournalGenome Research·DateNov 24, 2008

'Wiring' in the brain influences personality

Researchers at the University of Bonn found that the brain's 'wiring' plays a significant role in shaping personality traits and behavior. Individuals with well-developed neural connections between the ventral striatum and hippocampus tend to be more open to new experiences and seek out challenges.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateNov 23, 2008

Teaching the teachers

Researchers propose a new model to improve existing standards by capturing the multi-dimensional experience of new teachers, highlighting the importance of emotional and relational aspects in their development. The study found that support from colleagues and availability of teaching materials are key factors in job satisfaction.

Old-fashioned friendliness trumps incentives among supply chain partners

A recent study published in Management Science found that social preferences, such as status and reciprocity, play a significant role in shaping the behavior of supply chain partners. When these preferences are taken into account, partnerships can become more collaborative and mutually beneficial, leading to improved overall performance.

Understanding Europe's topography

The EUROCORES programme TOPO-EUROPE explores Europe's changing topography, combining solid Earth and climate scientists to understand past, present, and future changes. The project aims to refine sea level estimations and inform geological surveys on geothermal energy, seismic hazards, and slope instabilities.

UBC researchers develop breakthrough technique to unlock the secret of plasmas

UBC researchers have developed a new class of ultracold plasma made from molecules, which promises to revolutionize our understanding of plasmas and their properties. The technique creates plasmas three orders of magnitude denser than those made with trapped atoms, allowing for higher levels of correlation and potentially leading to ne...

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 21, 2008

Molecular memory a game-changer

Researchers at Rice University have developed a graphene-based memory device that can store large amounts of data in a two-dimensional array. This technology increases storage capacity by a factor of five and consumes virtually no power.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Materials·DateNov 21, 2008

Fall babies: Born to wheeze?

Children born four months before the height of cold and flu season have a greater risk of developing childhood asthma than children born at any other time of year. The study found that birth timing is independently linked to asthma development, with autumn babies facing the highest risk.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateNov 21, 2008

New study data: JANUVIA (sitagliptin)

A new study shows JANUVIA (sitagliptin), a diabetes medicine, effectively lowers blood glucose levels in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes and is not associated with hypoglycemia. The study found that advanced age can contribute to the risk of hypoglycemia, which is why this treatment is beneficial for older patients.

Putting an end to turbulence

Researchers from Max Planck Institute and Technical University discover that turbulent flows in pipes will inevitably become laminar, with the transition taking many years. This finding could help save energy in applications like oil pipelines.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 21, 2008

Sea level rise alters bay's salinity

Researchers from Penn State and University of Maryland studied Chesapeake Bay's salinity changes due to sea-level rise. They found an increasing trend in salinity, supporting the hypothesis that climate change is impacting the Bay's ecosystem.

Where there's wildfire smoke, there's toxicity

A new study analyzing particulate matter from Southern California wildfires confirms that the composition of smoke posed more serious potential threats to health than is generally realized. The study found that fire emissions produce a significantly larger aerosol in size, making it easier for particles to penetrate indoor structures.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateNov 20, 2008

Certain skills are predictors of reading ability in young children

Researchers found that differences between pre-K reading-disabled children and their peers diminished by pre-first grade, except for phonological awareness. Phonological awareness skills distinguished the groups at Pre-K and Pre-1, suggesting this skill is a strong predictor of reading disability.

SourceWiley·JournalLearning Disabilities Research and Practice·DateNov 20, 2008

Lactic acid found to fuel tumors

Researchers found lactic acid is an important energy source for tumor cells and discovered a way to destroy hard-to-kill cells by preventing lactate delivery. Blocking lactate transport kills oxygenated cells that starve hypoxic cells, offering a novel approach to treating tumors.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateNov 20, 2008

Oh, what a feeling!

Researchers found that training individuals to read body language, facial expressions, and voice tone in others resulted in significant gains in emotional perception. This skill is crucial for successful social communication and helps overcome chronic social difficulties or isolation. The training regime, known as self-instruction trai...

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalJournal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation·DateNov 20, 2008

Employee engagement dependent upon conditions created by employer

The study examines the meaning of employee engagement, which involves positive feelings about the job and motivation. The authors conclude that employers must create conditions that respect employees' energy and facilitate engagement through fair treatment, creating a feeling of trust and safety.

SourceWiley·JournalIndustrial and Organizational Psychology·DateNov 20, 2008

Pregnant women who do aquarobics have easier deliveries

A recent study published in Reproductive Health found that pregnant women who attended water aerobics classes had shorter labor durations and lower rates of analgesia requests compared to those who did not participate. The research suggests that moderate water aerobics during pregnancy may improve maternal and fetal health outcomes.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalReproductive Health·DateNov 20, 2008

JCI table of contents: Nov. 20, 2008

Researchers identified a potential new target for anticancer therapeutics by showing that well-oxygenated tumor cells use lactate as a fuel source, which is released by hypoxic tumor cells. Inhibiting this protein MCT1 disrupts the symbiotic relationship between tumor cell types and leads to decreased tumor growth in mice models.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateNov 20, 2008

Queen's secures £25M for UK's cyber safety

Queen's University Belfast is set to become the UK's lead center for developing technology to counter malicious cyber-attacks. The £25M investment will fund a new Innovation and Knowledge Centre, the Center for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT), which will create secure infrastructure to safeguard electronic information.

NRL scientists study cracks in brittle materials

Researchers used computer modeling and experimentation to investigate how cracks grow at low speeds in silicon, finding rearrangements of atoms associated with ductile materials can occur near the crack tip. This instability can lead to macroscopic changes in the path of the crack, leaving behind ridges on the crack surface.

SourceNaval Research Laboratory·JournalNature·DateNov 20, 2008