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Science News for November 17, 2009


World's first delivery of intra-arterial Avastin directly into brain tumor

Researchers successfully delivered high-dose chemotherapy to malignant brain tumors via intra-arterial Avastin, potentially avoiding common side effects of systemic chemotherapy. The innovative technique has shown promising results in early trials and may offer a new treatment option for patients with resistant brain tumors.

SourceNewYork-Presbyterian·JournalJournal of Experimental Therapeutics and Oncology·DateNov 17, 2009

Some prescription meds can harm fetus

A Université de Montréal investigation found that over six percent of expectant mothers in Quebec use prescription drugs known to be harmful to their fetuses. The study also revealed that the abortion rate among these women is 11 percent higher than in the rest of the population.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalBritish Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology·DateNov 17, 2009

Cross-country runabouts -- immune cells on the move

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute have discovered how immune cells, such as white blood cells, move on various surfaces. They found that these cells use a 'clutch and wheels' system, involving cell anchors and cytoskeleton deformation to maintain constant speed, enabling them to adapt to different substrates.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Cell Biology·DateNov 17, 2009

Small optical force can budge nanoscale objects

Researchers at Cornell University used a tiny beam of light to move a silicon structure up to 12 nanometers, switching its optical properties. This technology could have applications in MEMS and MOMS, where it might be useful for creating tunable filters or preventing silicon parts from sticking together.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature·DateNov 17, 2009

New funds for Rice, M.D. Anderson program

The Rice University-M.D. Anderson Cancer Center program provides incoming graduate students with early exposure to translational research and clinical practice. The HHMI funding renewal will allow the program to expand to include students from M.D. Anderson's Department of Imaging Physics.

Moa get fewer: Landmark study

A comprehensive study of over 260 sub-fossil specimens reveals that moas should be grouped into three families and six genera, reducing the number of species to nine. The study also presents a new geological model suggesting that land-dwelling animals on the North and South Island were isolated for most of the past 20-30 million years.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 17, 2009

Are teenagers wired differently than adults?

Researchers studied amygdala development, finding that neural pathways bypassing cortex are more plastic in juvenile than adult mice. This suggests that teenagers' emotions are less precise and more irrational due to subcortical drive.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateNov 17, 2009

Rice ties in race for atomic-scale breakthrough

Physicists at Rice University have successfully created a Bose-Einstein condensate from strontium atoms, marking an important advancement in atomic-scale research. The achievement demonstrates the long-sought creation of a state where individual atoms lose their identity and come together to form a singular lump.

Emulating Western lifestyles: Consumption and carbon footprints in less industrialized countries

A new study examines the consumption attitudes of upper-middle-class women in Turkey, finding two distinct class fractions with different consumption strategies based on childhood socialization. The more educated group focuses on Western lifestyle emulation, while the less-educated group prioritizes Turkish status symbols.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateNov 17, 2009

A second skin

A Tel Aviv University-developed dressing can eradicate infection-causing bacteria after just two days, protecting wounds until they heal. The biodegradable, antibiotic-infused material mimics skin's protective properties and helps doctors administer high doses of antibiotics locally, reducing toxicity issues.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalJournal of Biomedical Materials Research·DateNov 17, 2009

Solving the 50-year-old puzzle of thalidomide

Thalidomide's mechanism of causing limb defects has been linked to its impact on angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels. This understanding paves the way for developing safer treatments for diseases like Leprosy, Crohn's Disease, and AIDS.

SourceWiley·JournalBioEssays·DateNov 17, 2009

Purdue, NASA research provides blueprint for molecular basis of global warming

Researchers at Purdue University and NASA found that compounds containing fluorine atoms are more efficient at blocking radiation, contributing to global warming. These compounds, such as chlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, and sulfur and nitrogen fluorides, have the potential to quickly slam the atmospheric window shut, unlike ca...

SourcePurdue University·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry A·DateNov 17, 2009

News brief: Adverse symptom reporting by patients vs. clinicians

A new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that patient-reported symptoms were more highly associated with day-to-day health status, while clinician reports were more predictive of death and hospitalization. The study suggests that both perspectives are valuable for a comprehensive understanding of trea...

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateNov 17, 2009

Highlights of NHLBI-supported research presented at American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions

Research highlights from NHLBI-supported studies presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions include new education strategies for controlling hypertension and findings on a possible link between short-term and long-term exposure to air pollution and increased risk of constricted blood vessels. Two surgical approac...

Extinct moa rewrites New Zealand's history

Scientists reconstructed New Zealand's geological history using the first complete genetic history of the moa, revealing a history of marine barriers, mountain building, and glacial cycles over millions of years. The study also suggests that many iconic species evolved solely on the South Island.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 17, 2009

Newer heart devices significantly improve survival, complication rate and quality of life

A new generation of implanted devices has shown astounding improvements in survival, quality of life, reduced complications, and device durability in patients with heart failure. The newer devices have a higher success rate, allowing patients to walk longer distances and improving their overall well-being.

SourceUniversity of Louisville Health Sciences Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateNov 17, 2009

Studies suggest males have more personality

Studies across various species reveal that males tend to exhibit more predictable behavior, particularly in parental care, aggression, and risk-taking. Females, on the other hand, are more likely to vary their behavior and respond to these traits, indicating a preference for mates with consistent personalities.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalBiological Reviews·DateNov 17, 2009

'No muss, no fuss' miniaturized analysis for complex samples developed

NIST researchers have developed a novel method for analyzing complex samples with minimal sample preparation, using Gradient Elution Moving Boundary Electrophoresis (GEMBE) in microfluidic devices. This technique enables the separation of components from solutions containing particulates or other contaminating materials.