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Science News for January 6, 2011


Secondhand television exposure linked to eating disorders

A Harvard Medical School study found that indirect media exposure, such as friends' TV viewing habits, is a significant factor in eating disorder symptoms among adolescent girls in Fiji. Social network exposure was linked to a 60% increase in high-level eating disorder symptoms, independent of individual viewing habits.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalThe British Journal of Psychiatry·DateJan 6, 2011

School-based interventions for obesity

A US study analyzed 26 school-based nutrition interventions, revealing that classroom nutrition education and parental involvement were the most commonly used components. The study emphasizes the importance of synthesizing findings to inform research and program development for effective childhood obesity prevention.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalJournal of Nutrition Education and Behavior·DateJan 6, 2011

Standing tall is key for success in 2011

According to the study, posture plays a crucial role in determining whether people act as though they are really in charge. Adopting an expansive body posture activates a sense of power that produces behavioral changes independent of actual rank or hierarchical role in an organization. In contrast, recalling an experience of being in a...

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateJan 6, 2011

The hunt for the lunar core

Researchers at Arizona State University have discovered a core with an iron-rich center, resembling Earth's core, using array processing techniques on Apollo seismic data. The discovery sheds light on the lunar interior's composition and structure, providing insights into the Moon's ancient origins.

SourceArizona State University·JournalScience·DateJan 6, 2011

Drinking recycled water?

Researchers develop method to treat stormwater in constructed wetland and store it in an aquifer, producing near potable water after treatment. The study demonstrates potential for sustainable water recycling through managed aquifer recharge schemes.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalJournal of Environmental Quality·DateJan 6, 2011

Loss of gene promotes brain-tumor development, reduces survival, study finds

A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that losing the NFKBIA gene promotes glioblastoma multiforme growth and reduces survival. Restoring this gene may improve survival for certain patients with glioblastoma, as it inhibits tumor cell growth and increases sensitivity to chemotherapy.

SourceOhio State University Wexner Medical Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJan 6, 2011

Carbon swap bank to beat climate change

A carbon swap bank could lead to genuine reductions in carbon dioxide emissions, according to Australian researchers. The concept allows for direct deposits of sequestered carbon and withdrawals of emission rights, bypassing issues with accurate measurement and international regulation.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInterdisciplinary Environmental Review·DateJan 6, 2011

Study of 'sarcoid-like' granulomatous pulmonary disease finds elevated rates in WTC responders

A Mount Sinai study found a significant increase in the rate of 'sarcoid-like' granulomatous pulmonary disease among World Trade Center (WTC) responders compared to pre-9/11 FDNY personnel. The condition was associated with environmental exposures and lung function abnormalities.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Industrial Medicine·DateJan 6, 2011

British scientists head off on polar expedition

A team of British scientists are heading to the Antarctic Peninsula to collect rock samples and analyze their mineralogy, geochemistry, and isotopic character to determine how glaciers and ice sheets behaved in past climates. They aim to predict how these natural systems will react in years to come if temperatures continue to rise.

It's complicated: Despite the challenges, collaboration is key in kidney disease care

A study found that most primary care physicians and kidney specialists prefer shared care for patients with progressive chronic kidney disease, but their preferences on how and when to collaborate differ. Effective collaboration is crucial in slowing CKD progression or preparing patients for dialysis or transplantation.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalClinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateJan 6, 2011

Babies process language in a grown-up way

Researchers at UC San Diego found that babies over a year old process words with adult-like brain structures and meanings, challenging previous theories on infant language development. The study used MEG and MRI to map brain activity in infants and confirmed the same left frontotemporal areas activated in adults for word meaning.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalCerebral Cortex·DateJan 6, 2011

Neural stem cells maintain high levels of reactive oxygen species, UCLA study finds

Researchers at the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research found that neural stem cells maintain high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to help regulate normal self-renewal and differentiation. The findings may have significant implications for brain repair and abnormal brain development.

Cancer in a single catastrophe

Researchers have discovered that cancer can arise rapidly after a single catastrophic event involving tens to hundreds of genomic rearrangements. This phenomenon, known as chromothripsis, is seen in at least two percent of all cancers and up to 25 percent of bone cancers.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateJan 6, 2011

A blood test for Alzheimer's disease?

Researchers have created a potential method for detecting Alzheimer's disease with a simple blood test using synthetic molecules. The new technology may lead to blood tests for many important diseases if it proves successful.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateJan 6, 2011

Packaging that knows when food is going off

Researchers at the University of Strathclyde are developing a new type of indicator made of 'intelligent plastics' that changes color when food is about to spoil, cutting unnecessary waste by up to 8.3 million tonnes in the UK each year. This technology aims to improve food safety and reduce the economic damage caused by food waste.

New study reveals impact of eating disorders on Native-Americans

A new study by Professor Ruth Striegel-Moore and team found that Native American (NA) women are more likely to report behavioral symptoms of eating disorders than men. Research also revealed a parallel between NA women and ethnically white women when considering binge eating, purging and eating disorder diagnoses.

SourceWiley·JournalInternational Journal of Eating Disorders·DateJan 6, 2011