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Science News Archive September 2008 - Page 21


Page 21 of 24

Social psychology can be used to understand nuclear restraint

A new study in International Studies Review uses social psychology to understand Japan's nuclear restraint, finding that persuasion, identification, and conformity are key factors. The research suggests that Japan's faith in the NPT is rooted in its desire to be seen as a successful state, rather than a deterrent.

SourceWiley·JournalInternational Studies Review·DateSep 4, 2008

New research challenges long-held assumptions of flightless bird evolution

Researchers have found that large flightless birds of the southern continents did not share a common flightless ancestor. Instead, each species lost its ability to fly after diverging from ancestors that had the ability to fly. This challenges the long-held assumption of vicariance and suggests parallel evolution among these bird species.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 3, 2008

1 in 2 adults at risk for painful knee arthritis

According to a landmark government study, nearly half of adults will develop painful knee osteoarthritis over their lifetime, with obesity being a major risk factor. The Arthritis Foundation recommends techniques such as weight control, exercise, and self-management programs to reduce pain and disability associated with arthritis.

SourceArthritis Foundation·JournalArthritis Care & Research·DateSep 3, 2008

Physicians urged to broaden suicide prevention by addressing access to guns with patients

Researchers at Harvard School of Public Health suggest a broader approach to treating potentially suicidal individuals, addressing not only mental illness but also access to lethal means. This population-based approach recognizes that the physical environment can have a profound effect on the likelihood of completed suicide.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateSep 3, 2008

Probably wireless

Researchers at Florida Atlantic University have developed a Probabilistic Voting-based Filtering Scheme to protect WSNs against fabricated reports with false votes and false validation votes. This scheme can detect compromised sensors in real-time, minimizing false alarms and wasteful response efforts.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Security and Networks·DateSep 3, 2008

Study shows pine bark naturally reduces knee osteoarthritis

A new study confirms Pycnogenol's effectiveness in reducing knee osteoarthritis symptoms, with a 20.9% improvement rate and significant reductions in pain and joint stiffness. After treatment cessation, the joints showed no relapse, suggesting a potential lasting effect on joint health.

SourceMWW Group·JournalPhytotherapy Research·DateSep 3, 2008

A little nitrogen can go a long way

Researchers found that site-specific nitrogen and seed density management strategies did not consistently increase profit, but may benefit in certain situations with high maize to nitrogen fertilizer price ratios. Fertilizer nitrogen use efficiency was high across all site-years.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalAgronomy Journal·DateSep 3, 2008

Invisibility undone

A team of Chinese scientists has developed an 'anti-cloak' material that can partially cancel the effect of invisibility cloaks, enabling visibility in hostile environments. This breakthrough could have implications for survival and detection applications.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalOptics Express·DateSep 3, 2008

New methods identify and manipulate 'newborn' cells in animal model of Parkinson's disease

Researchers used an engineered virus to deliver a glowing protein into newborn brain cells in an animal model of Parkinson's disease, revealing most cells are glial and do not form neurons. Further gene delivery experiments showed no effect on neuron formation but increased the number of oligodendrocytes supporting neurons.

SourceCedars-Sinai Medical Center·JournalNeurobiology of Disease·DateSep 3, 2008

Hearing restoration may be possible with cochlear repair after transplant of human cord blood cells

Researchers found that transplantation of human cord blood cells can repair cochlear damage in animal models, with dramatic repair observed despite few human-derived cells migrating to the cochlea. The study suggests a potential treatment strategy for inner ear rehabilitation and hearing impairments caused by cochlear damage.

Yerkes researchers create animal model of chronic stress

Researchers at Yerkes National Primate Research Center created an animal model to study the effects of chronic stress on behavior, physiology, and reproduction. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is a key neurohormone involved in stress response, and its increased expression is linked to anxiety, depression, and infertility.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·DateSep 3, 2008

Monitoring immune responses in disease

A new method allows for the detection of multiple immune parameters from individual human cells, which may aid in diagnosing diseases such as type 1 diabetes. This breakthrough enables researchers to study rare blood cells and their role in autoimmune diseases, leading to potential novel biomarkers for therapy monitoring.

SourceElsevier·JournalClinical Immunology·DateSep 3, 2008

Biocontrol insect exacerbates invasive weed

Scientists in Montana found that an introduced fly may worsen the effects of a widely invasive plant. The fly's larvae induce the plant to grow tissue around them, reducing its energy for seed production. Deer mice prey on the larvae, further boosting mouse population size and negatively impacting native plants.

SourceEcological Society of America·JournalEcological Applications·DateSep 3, 2008

AGU journal highlights -- Sept. 3, 2008

Scientists have made significant progress in understanding the impact of dust on climate, with a new study using CALIPSO data to map global dust distribution. Another study found that a new Earth System Model can better represent global climate effects in the Amazon basin. Additionally, researchers have identified key dust sources in A...

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateSep 3, 2008

DNA editing tool flips its target

Scientists at Emory University School of Medicine have identified a crucial protein called UHRF1 that acts like a bookmark to maintain the correct pattern of DNA methylation. This process is essential for normal development and preventing cancer, as alterations in methylation patterns can lead to gene silencing at the wrong times.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalNature·DateSep 3, 2008

Halas wins prestigious nanotechnology research award

Naomi Halas, a leading researcher in nanophotonics, has been honored with the Research Excellence Award for her innovative work on nanoparticle synthesis and its applications in biotechnology. Her invention of nanoshells has shown tunable optical properties, making them suitable for various medical applications.

Natural childbirth makes mothers more responsive to own baby-cry

A new study found that mothers who delivered vaginally are more responsive to their baby's cry due to increased brain activity in regions regulating emotions and motivation. This could lead to better understanding and early detection of postpartum depression and attachment problems.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry·DateSep 3, 2008

Participating in religion may make adolescents from certain races more depressed

A study found that high levels of religious participation may contribute to adolescent depression among Latino and Asian-American youth, particularly those who face cultural conflicts between their faith and mainstream American society. In contrast, white and African-American teens showed no significant increase in depressive symptoms.

SourceOhio State University·JournalReview of Religious Research·DateSep 3, 2008