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Science News Archive 2009 - Page 195


Page 195 of 277

Louse infestation calibrates immune system regulation

Researchers studied louse infestation's effect on immune activity in wild wood mice, finding reduced readiness to mount an immune response. This suggests a potential immunosuppressive effect of the parasite, supporting the idea that modern human populations have heightened immune responsiveness due to reduced exposure to parasites.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Biology·DateApr 21, 2009

Witnessing violence affects kids' health

Exposure to community violence in school-aged children disrupts their normal cortisol production pattern, leading to physiological symptoms and potential long-term negative health effects. The study found a link between stress symptoms and cortisol levels, highlighting the need for healthcare providers to monitor these children's health.

SourceSpringer·JournalInternational Journal of Behavioral Medicine·DateApr 21, 2009

Biofuel crops pose invasive pest risk

Researchers warn that unregulated biofuel crop planting poses a significant threat to Hawaii's environment due to their high invasiveness. The study identifies high-risk biofuel crops that could be grown with implemented measures to reduce their risk of spreading out of control.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 21, 2009

Increasing levels of rare element found worldwide

Dartmouth researchers found a significant increase in rare element osmium worldwide, tracing it to platinum refinement and catalytic converters. The team measured osmium in precipitation, surface water, and deep water globally, with most of the findings linked to industrial processes.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 21, 2009

See salad, eat fries: When healthy menus backfire

Research at Duke University found that adding healthy options to menus can have the opposite effect, causing consumers with high self-control to make drastically worse choices. The study suggests that significant effort is needed from both food service providers and customers to promote healthy behaviors.

SourceDuke University·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateApr 21, 2009

Rifampin kinetics poor in children

A study published in BMC Medicine found that standard doses of Rifampin, a first-line antituberculosis drug, result in low serum concentrations in children. The researchers suggest increasing the dose to 10-20mg/kg may be more effective. This could lead to increased treatment duration and risk of relapse in severe forms of tuberculosis.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Medicine·DateApr 21, 2009

Power steering for your hearing

A new study by University of Utah researchers reveals that tiny hair-like tubes atop hair cells in the ear act as flexoelectric motors to amplify sound mechanically. This discovery sheds light on how humans can hear very quiet sounds, and may also have implications for our sense of balance.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 21, 2009

Online reporting system could track surgical complications

A Web-based reporting system helped identify four event patterns from morbidity reports and three from near-miss reports, addressing issues like chest tube placements and nurse-to-physician communications. However, under-reporting was disappointing, with only 27.2% of readmissions and 41.6% of inpatient deaths reported.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Surgery·DateApr 20, 2009

The life histories of the earliest land animals

Researchers at Uppsala University and colleagues analyze fossil upper arm bones from ancient vertebrates, revealing two distinct life histories. Ichthyostega, a more terrestrial animal, undergoes significant changes in limb shape and muscle attachments as it grows, while Acanthostega remains aquatic with less dramatic transformations.

SourceUppsala University·JournalScience·DateApr 20, 2009