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Science News for June 16, 2010


Blood relations

Researchers at Arizona State University and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center develop a new method to identify biomarkers for ovarian cancer using antibodies. They found 19 distinct scFvs that selectively bound to proteins exclusively found in ovarian cancerous blood serum, providing potential for significant improvements in patie...

SourceArizona State University·JournalMolecular & Cellular Proteomics·DateJun 16, 2010

Elemental bones

Researchers discovered that human bone samples can act as a biological marker for dozens of metals and toxic elements. The study analyzed rib bones from 84 citizens in a non-industrial region in Russia, finding the presence of 44 additional elements beyond those naturally present in the body.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Environment and Health·DateJun 16, 2010

Researchers predict human visual attention using computer intelligence for the first time

A new study used a computer-based model to predict what types of changes people are more likely to notice, revealing that addition or removal of an object is detected more readily than color changes. The findings have potential applications in designing displays for road signs, emergency services, and security.

New process is promising for hydrogen fuel cell cars

Researchers develop hydrothermolysis process to store and generate hydrogen for fuel cells in cars, achieving 14% hydrogen yield at near-fuel-cell operating temperatures. The technology has the potential to significantly improve hydrogen storage efficiency and make it more practical for widespread adoption.

SourcePurdue University·JournalAIChE Journal·DateJun 16, 2010

AIDS drugs given to pregnant women block 99 percent of HIV transmission to breastfed babies

In a groundbreaking study, researchers found that antiretroviral drug combinations given to pregnant and breastfeeding women in Botswana prevented 99% of the mothers from transmitting HIV to their infants. The study's findings have significant implications for maternal health and child survival in developing nations.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJun 16, 2010

Fully epitaxial microcavities

Researchers introduced quantum dots into fully epitaxial nitride laser structures, eliminating the need for hybrid systems. This advancement paves the way to further optimization of lasers and single photon emitters in the visible spectrum region.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateJun 16, 2010

Consequences of being rich

A new study found that wealth and population density are the primary factors driving invasive species in Europe, surpassing climate and geography. Human activities like trade and travel have led to a surge in introduced species, causing ecosystem disruption and native species displacement.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 16, 2010

Maternal or infant antiretrovirals both effective in preventing HIV transmission through breast milk

A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that giving antiretroviral drugs to HIV-infected breastfeeding mothers is as effective as administering an HIV-fighting syrup to their babies in preventing HIV transmission. Both methods were shown to increase infant HIV-free survival rates.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJun 16, 2010

Some people do not taste salt like others

Research suggests that genetics play a role in salt taste preference, with some individuals preferring salty foods over others. The study found that supertasters, who experience tastes more intensely, consume more salt due to their sensitivity to bitter tastes.

SourcePenn State·JournalPhysiology & Behavior·DateJun 16, 2010

Flower power makes tropics cooler, wetter

New climate simulations published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B demonstrate flowering plants' crucial role in regulating climate in ever-wet rainforests. Replacing these plants with non-flowering varieties leads to significant decreases in rainfall, underscoring their importance in maintaining tropical ecosystems.

Insulin peptide may point to a solution for type 1 diabetes

Researchers at National Jewish Health and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have identified a precise protein fragment that can trigger diabetes in mice. The finding contradicts conventional wisdom and suggests that poorly presented peptides may cause autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes.

SourceNational Jewish Health·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 16, 2010

Relying too much on e-mail bad for business, study says

A University of Illinois study found that relying too much on e-mail and videoconferences can lead to a lack of trust among team members, which is critical for successful collaboration. The research suggests that businesses should balance the use of technology with face-to-face meetings to recharge relationships and maintain trust.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalOrganizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes·DateJun 16, 2010

Little is understood about alcohol's effect on fetal development, Georgetown researchers say

Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center found that no new medical strategies exist to prevent or treat fetal alcohol syndrome, a disorder caused by alcohol exposure during pregnancy. Despite ongoing research, sensitive diagnostic tools are lacking, and more investigation is needed into biomarkers and prevention programs.

SourceGeorgetown University Medical Center·JournalDevelopmental Neuroscience·DateJun 16, 2010

The secret life of water at very low temperatures

University of Utah chemists confirm the coexistence of ice and liquid water after crystallization at very low temperatures. They found that rapid ice crystallization makes it difficult to follow the process, but computer simulations revealed a critical temperature zone that may be important for understanding cloud formations.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateJun 16, 2010

Tufts graduate students win $10,000 prizes

Four Tufts graduate students have won $10,000 from the Dow Sustainability Innovation Student Challenge for their research into sustainable solutions to global challenges. The winners proposed innovative projects on topics such as clean water access, food security, and animal species decline.

June 2010 Geosphere highlights

This issue of Geosphere highlights the geological processes that produce magma pulses and sheets in tabular intrusions. The study reveals a link between shallow igneous intrusions and volcanic activity, demonstrating how intrusive sheeting can destabilize volcano flanks and trigger eruptions.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeosphere·DateJun 16, 2010