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Science News for October 14, 2010


Kidney disease patients require individualized care

Research highlights that kidney disease patients' blood pressure management needs are not one-size-fits-all, with age, race, and diabetes affecting mortality risk. The rate of kidney function decline also significantly impacts patient prognosis, suggesting a need for tailored strategies to protect kidney function.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateOct 14, 2010

Asteroid collision forensics

Researchers pinpointed the exact date of a February 2009 asteroid collision using computer simulations and OSIRIS camera system images. The debris trail's three-dimensional shape, visible from a unique Rosetta space probe viewpoint, helped reconstruct the collision in detail.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·DateOct 14, 2010

Emergency medical services should advise bystanders giving CPR to perform chest compression only, not mouth-to-mouth

A study published in The Lancet found that dispatcher-assisted CPR producing chest compression only results in improved survival rates compared to standard CPR. Continuous uninterrupted chest compressions are vital for successful CPR, and avoiding mouth-to-mouth ventilation increases the probability of a successful outcome.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateOct 14, 2010

Not all doctors follow cancer screening guidelines

A new study found that only one-fifth of primary care physicians follow practice guidelines for all recommended colorectal cancer screening tests. Many clinicians overuse or underuse screening, leading to unnecessary testing and potential complications.

SourceSpringer·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateOct 14, 2010

JILA unveils improved 'molecular fingerprinting' for trace gas detection

Scientists have developed an improved laser-based technique to detect traces of key molecules in a gas, including greenhouse gases and pollutants. The new technology can identify a wider variety of molecules with lower concentration levels than before, making it suitable for applications such as breath analysis and atmospheric monitoring.

Push and pull get eyes to work together

Researchers found a new training method to reduce sensory eye dominance by making the weak eye work while suppressing vision in the strong eye. This approach improves depth perception and may be beneficial for professions that require fine depth perception, such as dentists and surgeons.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateOct 14, 2010

Researcher find fats galore in human plasma

A national research team led by UC San Diego scientists created the first lipidome of human plasma, discovering hundreds more fats than previously known. The findings reveal lipids' diverse roles beyond energy storage and cell membrane building, including signaling molecules that may play a role in diseases like diabetes and cancer.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalJournal of Lipid Research·DateOct 14, 2010

Insight gained into age-related hearing loss

Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School studied two closely linked genes that contribute to hearing function in mice, revealing separate maintenance pathways for β-actin and γ-actin proteins. These findings suggest important roles for each protein in maintaining auditory function during aging.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateOct 14, 2010

Planet hunters no longer blinded by the light

Using new optics technology developed at the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory, astronomers have obtained images of a planet on a closer orbit around its parent star than any other extrasolar planet previously found. The discovery enables scientists to search for planets closer to the star than has been previously possible.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateOct 14, 2010

Scientists perfect new nanowire technique

Researchers at the University of Leeds have developed a novel technique to control molecular alignment in discotic liquid crystals, enabling the creation of stable nanowires. These wires could be used in low-cost biosensors for water quality testing and next-generation electronic devices.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateOct 14, 2010

Perspectives on improving patient care: Genetics, personalized medicine, and behavioral intervention

This special issue of Perspectives on Psychological Science investigates the potential of genetics research, personalized medicine, and behavioral intervention to improve patient care. The articles examine the intersection of behavior and genetics, with a focus on tailoring treatments to individual genetic characteristics.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPerspectives on Psychological Science·DateOct 14, 2010

Is anxiety contagious?

A study by Prof. David Eilam and his team found that group members display the same level of anxiety when exposed to a common threat, regardless of individual differences. This result has implications for helping clinicians better treat victims of trauma or terror, such as in the case of the 9/11 attacks.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalBehavioural Brain Research·DateOct 14, 2010

A river ran through it

Rivers and streams face threats from human activities and climate change, altering their natural flow patterns and disrupting food webs. This can lead to the disappearance of large-bodied fish species, making them more vulnerable to droughts and floods.

SourceArizona State University·JournalScience·DateOct 14, 2010

Code RED for biodiversity

The proposed 2020 CBD goals aim to address biodiversity loss through specific, measurable, ambitious, realistic, and time-bound targets. However, experts argue that the targets must consider trade-offs, timing, and complexity to be successful.

SourceArizona State University·JournalScience·DateOct 14, 2010

OCTANE study influences revision of WHO guidelines for treating some HIV-infected women

A new study found that single-dose nevirapine can hamper the drug's effectiveness if used later to treat HIV-infected women. The WHO has revised its guidelines to advise against using nevirapine in combination with other drugs, if treatment begins fewer than 12 months after exposure.

Mysterious pulsar with hidden powers discovered

A team of astrophysicists has observed dramatic flares and bursts of energy from a weakly magnetized, slowly rotating pulsar, challenging the understanding of how these events occur in normal, low-field neutron stars. The discovery indicates that internal magnetic fields may be responsible for powering these phenomena.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalScience·DateOct 14, 2010