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Science News Archive August 2010 - Page 7


Page 7 of 23

Will cardiovascular disease prevention widen health inequalities?

A review of population strategies for preventing cardiovascular disease concludes that screening and treating high-risk individuals may be ineffective in reducing health disparities. Instead, policy interventions to limit risk-factor exposure across populations appear cheaper and more effective.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateAug 24, 2010

Researchers gain focus on a bug with bifocals

The larvae of the sunburst diving beetle have been found to possess bifocal lenses in four of their twelve eyes, allowing for efficient switching between close-up and distance vision. This discovery has implications for biomedical engineering and imaging technology, with potential applications for humans.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalCurrent Biology·DateAug 23, 2010

Embargoed news from Annals of Internal Medicine

Researchers found that local fishermen exposed to oil clean-up efforts two years prior showed persistent airway injury, including increased prevalence rates of respiratory symptoms and biomarkers of pulmonary oxidative stress. The study suggests even short-term exposure to oil sediments may have detrimental health effects.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateAug 23, 2010

Sensor important to understanding root, seedling development

A new biosensor developed at Purdue University can detect auxin movement in real-time, allowing scientists to better understand how the plant hormone regulates root growth. The sensor uses nanomaterials to create an electrical signal that measures auxin concentration, enabling instantaneous and continuous measurements during root growth.

SourcePurdue University·JournalThe Plant Journal·DateAug 23, 2010

Disasters especially tough on people with disabilities, mental disorders

A recent study by the American Psychological Association found that disasters disproportionately affect individuals with disabilities and mental disorders, with significant barriers to housing, transportation, and disaster services still present two years after Hurricane Katrina. Researchers recommend case managers knowledgeable about ...

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalRehabilitation Psychology·DateAug 23, 2010

Health diagnosis made simpler

Researchers at Arizona State University have created a new device that simplifies health diagnosis by detecting diseases quickly and at lower costs. The Integrascope uses superhydrophobic surfaces and LEDs to focus light on tiny particles, allowing for rapid detection of infectious agents or proteins in patient samples.

SourceArizona State University·JournalNature Precedings·DateAug 23, 2010

A cluster bomb for cancer care

Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a nano-sized vehicle that can deliver chemotherapy drugs directly into cancer cells while avoiding interaction with healthy cells. This technology has the potential to increase the efficiency of chemotherapeutic treatments while reducing their debilitating side effects.

Powerful new way to control magnetism

Scientists at Rutgers University discovered a material where an electric field controls the overall magnetic properties, leading to ultra-dense data storage. The effect could revolutionize small-scale magnetic bits and potentially lead to more dense storage devices than current terabyte discs.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateAug 23, 2010