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Science News for April 21, 2009


Our penchant for rarity could threaten conservation efforts

A study published in PLOS ONE found that people are more attracted to rare species, leading to longer download times and increased attempts to access them. This perceived value of rarity poses a threat to conservation efforts, particularly in the context of ecotourism and exotic pet trade.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 21, 2009

Ability grouping in elementary school hampers minority students' literacy

A new study by University of Illinois professor Christy Lleras found that ability grouping in elementary school impairs the literacy of lower-grouped minority students, while having little effect on higher-grouped minority students. The practice creates larger achievement gaps among minority students and exacerbates inequality.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalAmerican Journal of Education·DateApr 21, 2009

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