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Science News for November 9, 2010


Recommendation letters may be costing women jobs, promotions

A study at Rice University found that female candidates are described in more communal terms, which can negatively impact their hiring chances. The researchers suggest that traditional gender schemas contribute to these biases, highlighting the need for increased awareness of subtle discrimination in academia and management roles.

SourceRice University·JournalJournal of Applied Psychology·DateNov 9, 2010

Softening crystals without heat: Using terahertz pulses to manipulate molecular networks

Researchers at Kyoto University have successfully developed a method using terahertz pulses to manipulate molecular networks in crystalline form. This technique softens crystals without raising temperatures, allowing for potential advances in chemical synthesis and pharmaceutical refinement.

Ecologists get fish eye view of sexual signals

Researchers developed a model to mimic the stickleback's visual system, allowing them to determine what 'colors' the fish see. The results show that females can assess the quantity of carotenoids in males' signals, which is linked to his parenting ability.

SourceWiley·JournalFunctional Ecology·DateNov 9, 2010

How the dragon got its 'snap'

Researchers use snapdragon flower as model to study genetic and chemical cues that shape biological structures, revealing key role of genes in controlling cell growth and orientation. The study also suggests evolutionary tinkering played a role in shaping complex forms.

SourceNorwich BioScience Institutes·JournalPLOS Biology·DateNov 9, 2010

What do the UK uplands mean to you?

The Sustainable Uplands project gives UK uplands a voice through ouruplands.co.uk, highlighting their diversity and importance. The platform showcases video-clips, written accounts, and artwork from various stakeholders, including farmers, landowners, and policy-makers.

How well does clot-busting drug work in stroke patients?

A study published in Archives of Neurology found that stroke patients who show improvement within one hour of receiving rt-PA are more likely to have a favorable outcome three months later. Researchers followed 120 patients and found that 68.2% had a favorable outcome, compared to 29.6% for those who did not show early improvement.

SourceLoyola Medicine·JournalArchives of Neurology·DateNov 9, 2010

Probiotics shorten diarrhea episodes

A systematic review found that probiotics shortened diarrhoea episodes by around a day and reduced the risk of prolonged episodes by 59% in patients with diarrhoeal diseases. No serious adverse effects were reported.

SourceWiley·JournalCochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·DateNov 9, 2010

Global warming reduces available wind energy

A study by Diandong Ren finds that rising global temperatures decrease wind speeds, reducing the power output of wind turbines. This means that more wind turbines are needed to achieve the same amount of energy production, highlighting the need for a switch to renewable energy sources earlier.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy·DateNov 9, 2010

Foucault, revisited

Researchers from Argentina have successfully created a new type of Foucault pendulum that is smaller and more efficient than traditional devices. The new pendulums, which are designed to be compact enough to fit in a lobby or classroom, use advanced techniques to reduce the elliptical drift of the pendulum and improve precision.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalReview of Scientific Instruments·DateNov 9, 2010

Poll analysis: Americans have conflicting views about spending on public health system

A majority of Americans supports increased spending on public health in general, but there is a partisan divide and divisions within specific areas. Meanwhile, most people believe the US is not spending enough on improving and protecting public health, and many see long-term savings from measures to improve health and prevention.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalHealth Affairs·DateNov 9, 2010

New heart pump to provide temporary assist for infants, adults

Researchers have developed a new type of heart pump to improve the survival rate for infants undergoing surgeries to correct univentricular circulation. The innovative 'viscous impeller pump' can be inserted through a catheter and expands to form two cones, spinning at 10,000 rpm to efficiently pump blood.

SourcePurdue University·JournalJournal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery·DateNov 9, 2010

DNA reveals origins of first European farmers

A recent genetic study has overturned current thinking on the origins of European farming populations. The research, published in PLOS Biology, found that these early farmers were more closely related to populations living in modern-day Turkey, Iraq, and other parts of the Ancient Near East than to local hunter-gatherers.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalPLOS Biology·DateNov 9, 2010

Lab on chip for membrane proteins

A novel lab-on-chip device has been developed to screen sensitive membrane proteins in parallel, utilizing a nano-fabricated chip with 50,000 nanopores. This technology preserves protein structure without organic solvents or solid support, enabling simultaneous analysis and preserving fragile protein function.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalNano Letters·DateNov 9, 2010

Changing family behavior helps schizophrenic patients avoid relapse

A new Cochrane systematic review found that changing family behavior can help prevent relapses in people with schizophrenia. The study analyzed data from 53 trials involving over 4,700 patients and showed significant benefits of family interventions, including reduced hospital admissions and improved social functioning.

SourceWiley·JournalCochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·DateNov 9, 2010