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Science News Archive November 2009 - Page 2


Page 2 of 24

Women researchers less likely to receive major career funding grants, U-M study shows

A University of Michigan study found that women researchers are less likely than men to secure major funding for their careers, with only 19% of women attaining an R01 grant within 10 years. The study suggests that family demands and pressures to contribute to clinical work may be hindering women's success in research careers.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateNov 30, 2009

Biology of emergent Salmonella exposed

Researchers have characterised a new multi-drug resistant strain of Salmonella Typhimurium causing life-threatening disease in Africa. The new strain, ST313, is resistant to several antibiotics and may spread from person to person, predominantly affecting individuals with weakened immune systems.

SourceWellcome Trust Sanger Institute·JournalGenome Research·DateNov 30, 2009

Seeing family for the holidays? Scientists discover how the stress might kill you

Researchers found that the nervous system controls regulatory T cells, which help end an immune response, and that breaking this link can lead to new treatments for autoimmune diseases like lupus and arthritis. The study shows that stress from everyday events like seeing family around the holidays can negatively affect the immune system.

SourceFederation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·JournalJournal of Leukocyte Biology·DateNov 30, 2009

Study: Believers' inferences about God's beliefs are uniquely egocentric

A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that religious individuals tend to rely on their own beliefs when inferring what God might believe, but are less constrained when reasoning about others' beliefs. This suggests a unique egocentric bias in believers' thinking about God's views.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 30, 2009

Spinons -- confined like quarks

Scientists have observed a phenomenon known as confinement of spinons in a condensed matter system, where individual particles behave like quarks. The researchers used neutron scattering experiments to study the crystal and magnetic structure, finding evidence for the confinement idea.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalNature Physics·DateNov 29, 2009

Europe's device therapy use for heart failure doubles 2004-2008, some countries have low uptake

The use of implantable devices for treating heart failure increased substantially in Europe between 2004-2008, but disparities in device adoption remain. Device therapy, including ICDs and CRT, has gained acceptance as an adjunct to traditional drug treatment, with significant benefits in reducing mortality and morbidity.

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalEuropean Journal of Heart Failure·DateNov 29, 2009

Ecologists sound out new solution for monitoring cryptic species

Researchers have created a method using microphone arrays to estimate bird population density from recorded sounds, which may also be applied to tracking whales and dolphins. This innovative approach eliminates the need for observers to count birds, providing a more accurate index of abundance.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Applied Ecology·DateNov 26, 2009

Building real security with virtual worlds

Computer science researchers at University of Maryland create virtual worlds using advanced modeling and prediction techniques to analyze military and policy actions. These virtual worlds allow defense analysts to predict the most likely outcomes of different courses of action, enabling them to make informed decisions.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalScience·DateNov 26, 2009

Children with nutritional deficiencies and lack of educational access in poorer nations are at increased risk of disability

A study by Professor Maureen S Durkin and colleagues found that children in low- and middle-income countries are at higher risk of disability due to nutritional deficiencies, lack of early-learning activities, and limited educational access. The researchers analyzed data from 18 countries and found significant associations between disa...

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateNov 26, 2009

RNA on the move

Scientists at EMBL have visualized the molecular mechanism responsible for oskar mRNA transport in Drosophila. By combining immunofluorescence with electron microscopy imaging, they defined a hierarchy of RNA particle assembly. This breakthrough sheds light on development and neuronal function, including synaptic plasticity and learnin...

Plasma produces KO cocktail for MRSA

Researchers have developed two prototype devices to combat drug-resistant bacteria like MRSA. One device can disinfect human skin safely and quickly, while another can target infested chronic wounds for quicker healing.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateNov 26, 2009

Ecological speciation by sexual selection on good genes

A mathematical model demonstrates that disruptive ecological selection can trigger positive feedback between mate choice and ecological diversification, ultimately eliminating gene flow between species. This process can lead to the evolution of specialized ecotypes without divergent mating preferences, a departure from previous studies...

SourceSanta Fe Institute·JournalScience·DateNov 26, 2009

Peat fires drive temperatures up

The study found that peatland fires in Indonesia released up to 900 million metric tons of CO2 in 2006, equivalent to 16% of deforestation worldwide emissions. Peatlands store enormous amounts of organic carbon, and human activities like drainage and deforestation make them vulnerable to fire.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 26, 2009

When roots lose contact

Researchers found air gaps in roots that formed during dry periods, which partially refilled after irrigation. However, older parts of the taproot showed limited re-establishment of contact, raising concerns about severe drought's impact on plant nutrition.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalVadose Zone Journal·DateNov 26, 2009

Dementia, not blindness, is overwhelmingly the most important contributor to disability in elderly people in low- and middle-income countries

A study of 15,000 elderly individuals in 11 low- and middle-income countries found dementia to be the largest contributor to disability, followed by stroke, limb impairment, and depression. Chronic diseases, including those of the brain and mind, pose significant challenges for carers and society.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateNov 26, 2009

News brief: Long-term testicular cancer survivors at high risk for neurological side effects

A new study found that long-term testicular cancer survivors who received cisplatin-based chemotherapy experienced more severe neurological side effects compared to those not treated with chemotherapy. The study suggests that dose-intensive chemotherapy regimens can limit ototoxicity and hearing impairment in these patients.

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateNov 25, 2009

Heparanase-specific shRNA: A novel therapeutic strategy in human gastric cancer

Research on heparanase-specific shRNA reveals its potential as a novel therapeutic strategy for human gastric cancer. The study successfully knocked down HPA expression in gastric cancer cells, leading to decreased invasiveness and metastasis. This finding suggests a new approach for treating cancers overexpressing HPA.

SourceWorld Journal of Gastroenterology·JournalWorld Journal of Gastroenterology·DateNov 25, 2009

First 'genetic map' of Han Chinese may aid search for disease susceptibility genes

Scientists at the Genome Institute of Singapore have created a genetic map of the Han Chinese population based on genome-wide DNA variations in over 6,000 samples. The map reveals that northern inhabitants were genetically distinguishable from those in the south, consistent with historical migration patterns.

SourceAgency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics·DateNov 25, 2009

NIH teams with Lancet to address public health impacts of climate change

The NIH has partnered with The Lancet to address the public health impacts of climate change through four case studies on household energy, transportation, electricity generation, and agricultural food production. These studies demonstrate that cost savings from improving health can offset the cost of addressing climate change.