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Science News Archive June 2010 - Page 23


Page 23 of 24

TV food advertisements promote imbalanced diets

A new study finds that TV food advertisements promote imbalanced diets, with excessive sugars and fat, but inadequate nutrients like fruits and vegetables. The researchers analyzed 96 hours of TV programming and found that the advertised foods fail to meet nutritional guidelines in every food group except grains.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalJournal of the American Dietetic Association·DateJun 1, 2010

Microbe power as a green means to hydrogen production

Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a method for enhancing the efficiency of microbial electrochemical cells (MXCs) using specialized bacteria. By creating a mutual relationship between homo-acetogens and anode bacteria, they can improve electron flow and increase hydrogen production, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

SourceArizona State University·JournalBioresource Technology·DateJun 1, 2010

Challenges for the next pandemic

The article identifies six key public health challenges and data needs to prepare for future pandemics, including measuring age-specific immunity and accurately quantifying severity. Serological surveys and monitoring time-sources are crucial for gathering valuable pandemic data.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateJun 1, 2010

No relaxing for cancer cells

Cancer cells form clusters of centrosomes to distribute chromosomes correctly, a trick that can be targeted for destroying them. Researchers identified 82 genes responsible for this survival strategy and found that silencing specific proteins disrupts tension in spindle fibers, leading to cancer cell death.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJun 1, 2010

Plants spice up their sex life with defensins

Scientists have found that plants deploy defensin proteins to facilitate the fertilization process, releasing male sperm cells through an explosive mechanism. This groundbreaking discovery provides new insights into the evolution of flowering plants and may lead to breakthroughs in breeding crops with improved fertility.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJun 1, 2010

Protecting nerve cells the job of the protein NFI-A

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University discovered NFI-A's role in protecting nerve cells from death due to neurologic disorders and stroke. Knocking down NFI-A reduced the neuroprotective effects of sublethal doses of NMDA, supporting its central role in nerve cell survival.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJun 1, 2010

New automated tool 'debugs' nuclear weapon simulations

Purdue University researchers created an automated program to debug complex nuclear weapon simulations, reducing the time and difficulty of manual debugging. The tool, AutomaDeD, was 90% accurate in identifying errors and has potential applications in other parallel applications like climate modeling and high-energy particle physics.

Immune system helps transplanted stem cells navigate in central nervous system

A UCI study identifies the body's immune system as a key player in navigating transplanted stem cells to injured areas in the central nervous system. Adult neural stem cells were shown to be guided by CXCR-4 receptors and chemokine proteins to specific sites, where they differentiated into oligodendrocytes to repair damaged tissue.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 1, 2010

How New York City is preparing for climate change

The New York City Panel on Climate Change (NPCC) reveals the city's comprehensive plan to adapt to climate change, focusing on energy, transportation, water, and communication systems. The report proposes flexible Adaptation Pathways to mitigate risks and provide win-win opportunities for city managers.

SourceWiley·JournalAnnals of the New York Academy of Sciences·DateJun 1, 2010

Copper nanowires enable bendable displays and solar cells

Researchers at Duke University have created copper nanowires that are both transparent and conductive, making them ideal for flexible displays and thin-film solar cells. These nanowires are cheaper than silver nanowires and outperform carbon nanotubes, offering a promising solution to the limitations of ITO.

SourceDuke University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateJun 1, 2010