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Science News Archive 2009 - Page 205


Page 205 of 277

Intervention reduces children's viewing of violent TV

A study published in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology found a classroom-based intervention reduced violent TV viewing among first- through fourth-grade children by 18%. The intervention, called The REViEW Project Curriculum, also decreased students' identification with violent superheroes.

SourceOregon State University·JournalJournal of Applied Developmental Psychology·DateApr 7, 2009

Wild chimpanzees exchange meat for sex

Researchers found that females copulate more frequently with males who share meat with them, compared to those who never share. This suggests that sharing meat with females improves males' mating success and may be a long-term strategy for securing mates.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 7, 2009

Has HIV become more virulent?

A recent study found that HIV-positive patients are entering care with lower initial CD4 cell counts and often require antiretroviral therapy soon after diagnosis. The trend suggests the virus has become more virulent, with a significant increase in patients requiring treatment before reaching the threshold of 350 CD4 cells/mm³.

SourceInfectious Diseases Society of America·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·DateApr 7, 2009

From three to four: A quantum leap in few-body physics

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck experimentally prove the existence of four-body loss resonances closely tied to Efimov trimer states, providing strong evidence for these new universal states. This achievement marks an important step towards simplifying laws for complex interactions in few-body physics.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 7, 2009

Better living through chemistry

Scientists discovered dynamic microbial communities in deep-sea mud volcanoes and brine pools with harsh conditions, supporting life processes on early Earth, Mars, and moons like Jupiter's Europa. These findings provide new insights into microbial adaptation and the potential for life beyond Earth.

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalNature Geoscience·DateApr 7, 2009

A woman's nose knows body odor

Women outperform men in detecting body odors, particularly those from the opposite sex. The study suggests that human sweat conveys information of particular importance to females, explaining why it is challenging to block women's perception of sweat odors.

SourceMonell Chemical Senses Center·JournalFlavour and Fragrance Journal·DateApr 7, 2009

Owls' dawn and dusk concerts promote visual communication

Research found that eagle owls utilize vocal displays during dawn and dusk to convey visual signals, with a white throat badge providing better contrast in low light conditions. This challenges the assumption that diurnal species are the primary users of visual signalling.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 7, 2009

Violent video games can improve vision

A Tel Aviv University study found that playing violent video games can enhance the ability of teenagers to discriminate between subtle contrasts in color or shades of gray. After playing 50 hours of violent action games, players showed a significant improvement in contrast sensitivity, with some even experiencing up to 58% enhancement.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateApr 7, 2009

High-fat diets plus extra protein make for bad mix

A new study reveals that high-fat diets supplemented with extra branched chain amino acids can lead to insulin resistance and diabetes in rats. The researchers found that BCAA tend to climb along with insulin resistance, and its effects are exacerbated when combined with high fat consumption.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Metabolism·DateApr 7, 2009

Oral contraceptives associated with increased risk of lupus

A large observational study found that combined oral contraceptives are associated with an increased risk of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), particularly among women who started using them recently. The study suggests a possible dose-response effect of estrogen on SLE onset.

SourceWiley·JournalArthritis Care & Research·DateApr 7, 2009

VA/UAB study looks at functional decline in older patients after hospitalization

Researchers found that patients hospitalized for surgery returned to normal baseline function more quickly than those hospitalized for illness, suggesting increased expectations of recovery may be a key factor. The study highlights the importance of promoting physical and cognitive activity during hospitalization to prevent functional ...

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateApr 7, 2009

Stem cell innovation at risk

The University of Nottingham's studies found that improved collaboration with clinicians, better funding, and regulatory certainty are crucial for stem cell therapy success. The industry is at risk of market failure due to structural barriers within the NHS.

The fragility of the world's coral is revealed through a study of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

A recent study by researchers from UC Santa Barbara's National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis has shed light on how to effectively manage the world's endangered coral reef ecosystems. The study reveals that the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, a vast area stretching over 1,200 miles, are highly vulnerable to human-induced t...