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Science News Archive 2011 - Page 38


Page 38 of 311

NIH-funded twin study finds occupational chemical exposure may be linked to Parkinson's risk

A recent NIH-funded twin study found a significant link between occupational chemical exposure and the development of Parkinson's disease. The study, published in Annals of Neurology, suggests that two common solvents, trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PERC), may increase Parkinson's risk sixfold and ninefold, respectively...

Adolescent alcohol consumption and breast cancer

A new study found a significant association between adolescent alcohol consumption and increased risk of benign breast disease among girls with a family history of breast cancer. Consuming more alcohol was linked to a higher risk, particularly in those with rapid height growth spurts.

SourceWiley·JournalCancer·DateNov 14, 2011

New technique enables study of 'challenging' proteins

Researchers have developed a new technique that can identify protein structures in just hours, revolutionizing the pharmaceutical industry. The enhanced NMR spectroscopy method using dynamic nuclear polarisation (DNP) enables significant structural data to be gained from small biological samples.

SourceUniversity of Hull·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateNov 14, 2011

Enzyme boosts metabolism, prevents weight gain in mice

Scientists engineer mice to express human enzyme IKKbeta in fat tissue, significantly slowing weight gain and improving metabolism. The study suggests obesity is worse than inflammation for insulin resistance, offering new clues about the connections among obesity, inflammation, and type 2 diabetes.

SourceBrown University·JournalEndocrinology·DateNov 14, 2011

JCI online early table of contents: Nov. 14, 2011

Researchers discovered a molecular pathway driven by PDGFR-alpha that promotes the aggressive nature of a significant proportion of glioblastomas. Overexpressed in GBMs, this pathway triggers signaling cascades leading to tumor growth and invasion. Manipulating Dock180 phosphorylation disrupts this pathway, resulting in failed tumor pr...

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateNov 14, 2011

1 in 5 Americans has hearing loss

A new study by Johns Hopkins researchers found that nearly 30 million Americans have severe hearing loss, with prevalence doubling every decade. The finding suggests that many more people than previously thought are affected by this condition, which has significant consequences for cognitive decline and physical functioning.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalArchives of Internal Medicine·DateNov 14, 2011

How smart managers make dumb decisions and why shareholders encourage them: Rotman paper

A new study from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management finds that smart managers engage in earnings manipulation and insider trading due to limited capacity and ethical weaknesses. The study suggests that choosing less ethical managers may be in the best interests of current shareholders but not future ones.

SourceUniversity of Toronto, Rotman School of Management·JournalJournal of Accounting and Public Policy·DateNov 14, 2011

Nice guys can finish first

A new Harvard study found that dynamic social networks encourage cooperation and friendliness, while selfish behavior can lead to exclusion from the group. Players who re-wired their social connections were more willing to form new relationships with generous individuals.

SourceHarvard University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 14, 2011

New study finds that even the cleanest wastewater contributes to more 'super bacteria'

A new University of Minnesota study reveals that even treated municipal wastewater can contribute significantly to antibiotic-resistant bacteria in surface waters. Researchers found that quantities of these bacteria were typically 20-fold higher near the site where treated wastewater was released into Duluth-Superior Harbor.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateNov 14, 2011

Self-organized pituitary-like tissue from mouse ES cells

Researchers have successfully differentiated mouse ES cells into a tissue resembling the adenohypophysis, the hormone-secreting component of the pituitary gland. The self-organized tissue exhibits functional hormone secretion and can compensate for pituitary function in mice.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature·DateNov 14, 2011

Scripps Research scientists find potential Achilles' heel on Lassa fever and related viruses

Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have determined the atomic structure of a protein used by the Lassa fever virus to replicate within infected cells. The study reveals an unexpected molecular crevice where the viral protein grips viral genes, making it a target for potential antiviral drugs.

SourceScripps Research Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 14, 2011

BUSM: Severe sepsis, new-onset AF associated with increased risk of hospital stroke, death

A recent study by researchers at Boston University School of Medicine found that severe sepsis and new-onset atrial fibrillation are associated with a higher risk of hospital stroke and death. Patients diagnosed with these conditions during hospitalization had three times the risk of stroke and a seven percent increased risk of mortality.