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Science News for June 14, 2011


Internet could be 10 times faster than it is

The 100GET project successfully increased internet bandwidth capacity from 40GbE to 100GbE, demonstrating the importance of efficient data transfer in meeting growing demand. By leveraging partnerships and innovative technologies, companies involved in the project have created new products, jobs, and patent applications.

SourceEUREKA·DateJun 14, 2011

Wired for sound: A small fish's brain illustrates how people and other vertebrates produce sounds

A study of midshipman fish has identified two distinct groups of neurons controlling sound duration and frequency for social communication. The research provides a simplified wiring diagram for understanding how the brain allows vertebrates to produce sounds, revealing an ancestrally shared brain area that originated in fishes.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 14, 2011

New research system uses social media and other tools to gather, analyze expert opinions

Researchers have developed a new method called ExpertLens to gather and analyze opinions from experts and laypeople, leveraging online and social media technologies. The system has performed well in early tests and could have wide application across various fields such as public policy, healthcare, finance, and marketing.

SourceRAND Corporation·JournalTechnological Forecasting and Social Change·DateJun 14, 2011

Blood pressure changes are age-related

Researchers analyzed data from over 30,000 individuals to identify four phases of blood pressure changes throughout life. The study found that midlife acceleration in blood pressure was more pronounced in men than women due to menopause-related effects, and body mass index had a strong link with blood pressure.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateJun 14, 2011

Note to dads: Good parenting makes a difference

A new study published in Development and Psychopathology found that quality parenting skills by dads significantly reduces the incidence of risky sexual behavior in their daughters. The study, led by Bruce J. Ellis, showed that girls who receive lower quality fathering tend to engage in more risky sexual behavior in adolescence.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalDevelopment and Psychopathology·DateJun 14, 2011

Early French had a taste for beer

A new study reveals archaeobotanical evidence of beer brewing in Mediterranean France, dating back to the 5th century BC. The findings suggest that the French had an early passion for beer brewing, alongside regular wine making.

SourceSpringer·JournalHuman Ecology·DateJun 14, 2011

HAART effective for treating HIV-infected children living in DRC

This observational cohort study found HAART markedly improves the survival of HIV-infected children in a severely resource-deprived country. The treatment's effectiveness was comparable to that seen in more affluent settings, addressing a significant need for information on its impact in low-income countries.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateJun 14, 2011

Money can't buy happiness

A meta-analysis of data from 63 countries found that societal values of individualism are the best predictors of well-being. Higher income and social equality also contribute to higher well-being, but the effect of money on happiness plateaus once basic needs are met.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateJun 14, 2011

E. coli bacteria more likely to develop resistance after exposure to low levels of antibiotics, reports a study in Microbial Drug Resistance

A recent study found that E. coli bacteria are more likely to develop resistance to antibiotics when exposed to low levels of these medications, rather than high concentrations. This finding challenges previous assumptions about the safety of using antibiotics in food animals and highlights the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalMicrobial Drug Resistance·DateJun 14, 2011

WMS issues important new practice guidelines for frostbite prevention and treatment

The Wilderness Medical Society has published evidence-based practice guidelines for the prevention and treatment of frostbite. The guidelines emphasize preventing frostbite through measures such as maintaining blood flow to extremities, exercising, and minimizing exposure and heat loss. Treatment options include field-thawing followed ...

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalWilderness and Environmental Medicine·DateJun 14, 2011

Penn State receives $27.3 million NIH grant

The National Institutes of Health has awarded Penn State a $27.3 million grant to support the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, which aims to improve public health through collaborative research and outreach expertise. The grant will focus on children's health, cancer, and behavioral health.

Low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets may reduce both tumor growth rates and cancer risk

A low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet has been shown to slow the growth of tumors and reduce the risk of cancer in mice. The study found that restricting carbohydrate intake can limit blood glucose and insulin, promoting tumor growth. A low-carb diet also boosted the immune system's ability to kill cancer cells and prevented obesity.

SourceAmerican Association for Cancer Research·JournalCancer Research·DateJun 14, 2011

Screening helps African-American students connect with school-based mental health services

African-American middle school students are more likely to consent to mental health screening and access school-based services. The study found that 71.7% of African-American students referred for screening accessed recommended services, compared to 76.2% of white students.

Migration interception practices are a major threat to health

The study highlights the potential health risks associated with migration interception practices, including immigration detention and visa restrictions. Health professionals must engage in discussions about migration and humanitarian protection to consider the broader impact on health and welfare.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateJun 14, 2011

Van Andel Research Institute finding is potential predictor of deadly cancer common in Asia

Van Andel Research Institute scientists found a protein that predicts the spread of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, a deadly head and neck cancer common in southern China and Southeast Asia. Higher levels of serglycin correlate with poor prognosis and increased metastasis, suggesting it as a therapeutic target to stop disease progression.

SourceVan Andel Research Institute·JournalCancer Research·DateJun 14, 2011

Learning to count not as easy as 1, 2, 3

Research at the University of Chicago found that preschool children grasp counting only if they understand the value of groups greater than three. Children who are exposed to higher number words acquire an understanding of the cardinal principle before those with limited exposure.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalDevelopmental Science·DateJun 14, 2011

New light shed on cell division

A team of researchers has made a breakthrough in understanding the assembly of centromeres in human cells, revealing an essential division of labor among specific proteins. By visualizing these proteins in living cells, they discovered that certain proteins like CENP-A play a crucial role in carrying genetic information to the centromere.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJun 14, 2011