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Science News Archive February 2011 - Page 14


Page 14 of 25

Playtime helps bind generations

A new study from Concordia University and Wilfrid Laurier University confirms that shared leisure time between grandparents and their adult grandchildren is key to forming strong intergenerational relationships. This common activity allows for knowledge sharing, mutual understanding, and the development of empathy.

SourceConcordia University·JournalFamily Relations·DateFeb 14, 2011

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

Researchers identify Hunk as a key protein required for HER2/neu-induced mammary tumorigenesis, potentially leading to new treatments for aggressive breast cancer. A new compound, ABT-737, sensitizes human cancer cells to apoptosis in hypoxic regions, offering a potential combination therapy for solid tumors.

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

Lavender oil has potent antifungal effect

Scientists have discovered that lavender oil has a potent antifungal effect against strains of fungi responsible for common skin and nail infections. The essential oil was found to be lethal to dermatophytes and various species of Candida, making it a promising alternative to existing treatments.

SourceMicrobiology Society·JournalJournal of Medical Microbiology·DateFeb 14, 2011

Total cooperation among people is not viable

Researchers found that people can be categorized into different types based on their cooperation behavior, with around 5% always helping, 35% never helping, and 60% cooperating depending on circumstances. The study suggests that economic incentives are not the primary driver of cooperation, but rather individual motivations and behaviors.

Estrogen reduces aggression in breast cancer

Researchers found that oestrogen can reduce the proportion of breast cancer stem cells, explaining a better prognosis for tumours expressing the oestrogen receptor. This study presents new insights into oestrogen's effect on cancer stem cells and opens doors to developing tools for preventing breast cancer.

SourceElhuyar Fundazioa·JournalBreast Cancer Research and Treatment·DateFeb 14, 2011

Medicare costs in last 6 months of life driven by patient variables twice as much as geography

A study found that Medicare costs in the last six months of life are driven more by patient characteristics such as ability to function and family support than regional factors. Patient impairment or decline was a strong predictor of higher Medicare costs, accounting for ten percent of variation.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateFeb 14, 2011

Gonorrhea acquires a piece of human DNA

Researchers at Northwestern University have discovered the first evidence of a human DNA fragment in a bacterial genome, specifically Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This finding offers insight into the bacterium's ability to adapt to its human host and could lead to new strains of the disease.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalmBio·DateFeb 13, 2011

Fleeting fluctuations in superconductivity disappear close to transition temperature

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University and Brookhaven National Laboratory measured superconducting fluctuations in a superconductor, finding they disappear 10-15 Kelvin above the transition temperature. This suggests electron pairs lose coherence rather than break apart at Tc, driving the transition to a non-superconducting state.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalNature Physics·DateFeb 13, 2011