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Science News Archive August 2011 - Page 13


Page 13 of 27

Maternal fat has negative impact on embryo development

Research found that embryos exposed to high levels of saturated fatty acids have fewer cells, altered gene expression, and impaired metabolic activity. This study suggests a link between maternal obesity and diabetes and reduced fertility, highlighting the importance of pre-pregnancy health for successful conception.

SourceUniversity of Hull·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 17, 2011

Life on the wind: Study reveals how microbes travel the Earth

Researchers used computer models to simulate the dispersal of microorganisms in the Earth's atmosphere, finding that smaller microbes can easily travel thousands of kilometers over a year-long period. This study has significant implications for understanding microbial diversity and the potential for disease outbreaks.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Biogeography·DateAug 17, 2011

Computers will be able to tell social traits from the face

Researchers have developed a computational tool that can determine whether faces are attractive, threatening or dominant with high accuracy. The tool uses machine learning techniques to analyze facial characteristics and was tested on a set of synthetic images, achieving accuracies of up to 96%.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 17, 2011

Quantum optical link sets new time records

Researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute have successfully maintained entanglement between two gas clouds of caesium atoms for up to an hour using controlled laser light. This breakthrough enables quantum communication and has potential applications in ultra-precise measurements, including studying human brain activity.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateAug 17, 2011

Using powder-free latex gloves reduces latex allergy rate in health care workers

Using powder-free latex gloves significantly reduced the rate of latex sensitization among healthcare workers. A study found a 16-fold reduction in latex sensitization after institutions switched to powder-free gloves, preventing allergic sensitization and allowing some sensitized workers to lose sensitivity.

SourceMedical College of Wisconsin·JournalJournal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine·DateAug 17, 2011

Insecticide resistance could threaten long-term malaria prevention and elimination in Africa

Research in Senegal found growing resistance to a common insecticide class among mosquitoes, coupled with increased susceptibility of older children and adults, resulting in malaria resurgence. The study suggests that new strategies are urgently needed to mitigate the devastating effects of insecticide resistance on malaria control.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet Infectious Diseases·DateAug 17, 2011

Gene combination increases risk of lung cancer, particularly in light smokers, CAMH study finds

A CAMH study found that a specific gene combination significantly increases lung cancer risk, particularly among light smokers with two high-risk variants of the nicotine metabolic and nicotinic genes. The genetic risk was higher in lighter smokers, suggesting a need for targeted interventions to reduce lung cancer risk.

SourceCentre for Addiction and Mental Health·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateAug 17, 2011

Sniffer dogs can be used to detect lung cancer

Researchers have found that sniffer dogs can reliably detect lung cancer by identifying volatile organic compounds in patients' breath. The study, published in the European Respiratory Journal, used trained dogs to detect lung cancer with an accuracy rate of 71%, surpassing current detection methods.

SourceEuropean Respiratory Society·JournalEuropean Respiratory Journal·DateAug 17, 2011

Consumers willing to pay more for sustainable apparel if business is transparent, MU study finds

Consumers are willing to pay a premium for sustainable and ethical products from apparel companies that practice transparency. However, skepticism about corporate claims of sustainability persists due to suspicion of marketing ploys. To build trust, consumers demand standardized authentication from authorities like the government.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalClothing and Textiles Research Journal·DateAug 17, 2011

Parasite-infected rodents attracted to cat odor study finds

A study published in PLOS ONE reveals how the brain parasite Toxoplasma gondii alters rodent fear responses to attract them towards cat odors. Infected rodents exhibit increased neural activity in regions associated with sexual attraction, suggesting a link between fear and attraction.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 17, 2011

Ambitious goals = satisfaction

A study by University of California, Riverside assistant marketing professor Cecile K. Cho found that people are more satisfied when they set ambitious goals compared to conservative goals. The experiment involved participants setting targets and allocating a budget, with high-goal setters averaging higher satisfaction levels.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateAug 17, 2011

Arctic ice melt could pause in coming decades

A new study finds that Arctic sea ice under current climate conditions is as likely to expand as it is to contract for periods of up to about a decade. Researchers used computer modeling to simulate the behavior of the ice and found that it may temporarily stabilize or slightly increase in extent over the next few decades. However, lon...

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateAug 17, 2011

Change the environment, not the child

A new rehabilitation approach for children with cerebral palsy, called 'context-focused intervention', has been shown to be equally beneficial as traditional child-focused therapy. The study found no significant differences in daily functioning between the two treatment groups.

Man in the moon looking younger

A team of scientists, including Carnegie's Richard Carlson, has estimated the age of a lunar rock sample at 4.36 billion years, significantly younger than earlier estimates of 4.568 billion years. This finding supports the idea that the oldest crusts on both Earth and Moon formed around the same time after a giant impact.

Friendship, timing key differences between US, Eastern European love

Residents of US, Lithuania, and Russia view romantic love through different lenses. While 'being together' is a common requirement, expressions of 'comfort/love' and 'friendship' are more prevalent in the US than Eastern Europe. Americans take longer to fall in love, with over 90% reporting it within a month compared to 58% in the US.

SourceSAGE·JournalCross-Cultural Research·DateAug 17, 2011

Study: College students not eating enough fruits and veggies

A recent study by Oregon State University reveals that college students are not meeting the daily recommended intake of fruits and vegetables, with many consuming less than one serving per day. The research highlights the importance of teaching essential life skills such as meal planning and cooking to foster healthy eating habits.

SourceOregon State University·JournalJournal of Nutrition Education and Behavior·DateAug 17, 2011

Competitive Scrabble makes you smarter

Researchers found that competitive Scrabble players can develop visual word recognition ability in adulthood, recognizing English words up to 20% faster than non-players. They also showed less reliance on the word's meaning and more on its visual appearance, allowing for efficient recognition of letter sequences.

SourceUniversity of Calgary·JournalMemory & Cognition·DateAug 17, 2011

Research team achieves first 2-color STED microscopy of living cells

A research team from Yale University has successfully achieved two-color stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy in living cells, overcoming previous challenges in labeling target proteins. The breakthrough enables resolutions of 78 nanometers and 82 nanometers for sequential scans of two proteins in living cells.

SourceOptica·JournalBiomedical Optics Express·DateAug 17, 2011

Computational method predicts new uses for existing medicines

A new computational method using genomic information predicts new uses for existing medicines, including treating Crohn's disease with prednisolone and inflammatory bowel diseases with topiramate. This approach could improve treatments, save time and money, and provide insights into disease progression and drug mechanisms.

SourceNIH/National Institute of General Medical Sciences·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateAug 17, 2011