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Science News Archive August 2009 - Page 14


Page 14 of 22

Human mind: Sound and vision wired through same 'black box'

A Canadian study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that sounds and images share a similar neural code in the human brain. Researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) to examine how people distinguish between different types of sounds, such as speech and music, or different images. ...

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 12, 2009

Early noninvasive ventilation after extubation reduces mortality and lowers risk of respiratory failure in patients with chronic respiratory disorders

Patients with chronic respiratory disorders who received early noninvasive ventilation after extubation had a lower risk of death and respiratory failure compared to those given conventional oxygen therapy. Non-invasive ventilation was associated with an 83% decreased risk of respiratory failure after extubation.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateAug 12, 2009

Lifting weights reduces lymphedema symptoms following breast cancer surgery, Penn research shows

A new study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that weightlifting can help reduce lymphedema symptoms in breast cancer survivors. The research challenges traditional advice and suggests a slowly progressive weight-lifting routine can be beneficial for women with lymphedema.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateAug 12, 2009

The tourist trap

Scientists from the University of Leeds and the Zoological Society of London have found that mosquitoes are regularly hitching a ride on tourist boats and breeding with existing populations.

New insights into limb formation

A new mouse model reveals that hyaluronic acid plays a critical role in skeletal growth, chondrocyte maturation, and joint formation. The discovery opens possibilities for future research into age-related diseases such as arthritis and skin aging.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalDevelopment·DateAug 12, 2009

Breakthrough in Alzheimer's research

A large multicentre study has confirmed that a combination of proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid can reliably identify patients with early symptoms of dementia who will later develop full-blown Alzheimer's disease. The findings may lead to new medicines and point-of-care diagnostics.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalJAMA·DateAug 12, 2009

Parental influences differ in determing child's later academic success

A study by Brent McBride, a University of Illinois expert in early childhood education, found that fathers' influence on a child's academic success later in life is felt the most when they're involved from the very beginning. Mothers' involvement, on the other hand, was positively related to a child's academic achievement.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Educational Psychology·DateAug 12, 2009

PR pros are good ethical thinkers, study finds

A new study finds that public relations practitioners are good ethical thinkers, scoring better than orthopedic surgeons and business professionals on an ethical reasoning test. The research, conducted by two Johnson Legacy Scholars, measured the moral development of working PR professionals.

SourceDick Jones Communications·JournalJournal of Public Relations Research·DateAug 12, 2009

Worth the effort? Not if you're depressed

Researchers discovered that individuals with anhedonia, a core symptom of major depressive disorder, are less willing to make choices requiring greater effort in exchange for greater reward. This finding suggests a plausible connection between dopamine deficiency and reward processing in depression.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 12, 2009

Early human hunters had fewer meat-sharing rituals

Researchers found that early human hunters in central Israel between 400,000 and 250,000 years ago were skilled at big-game hunting like later stone-age hunters, but shared meat differently. The earlier humans were less efficient and specialized when it comes to carving flesh from their prey.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 12, 2009

New no-needle approach to prevent blood clots

Researchers have developed a new oral anti-clotting drug called Apixaban that is effective in preventing blood clots and reducing bleeding risk by half. The treatment was tested in a double-blind study of over 3,000 patients and proved to be a major step forward in preventing deadly blood clots after joint replacement surgery.

SourceUniversity of Oklahoma·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateAug 11, 2009