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Science News for June 6, 2011


Blood clotting and bowel cancer risk

A large study found that carrying the FVL gene variant substantially increases the risk of colorectal cancer, with a six-fold increase in risk compared to those without the variant. Another gene variant of clotting factor XIII was also associated with a 15% lower risk of bowel cancer.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateJun 6, 2011

Brain scans appear to show changes associated with violent behavior

A recent brain imaging study suggests that men with a history of violent behavior may have greater gray matter volume in certain brain areas, whereas those with substance use disorders may have reduced volume in other areas. The study found associations between increased gray matter volume and higher scores for psychopathy and lifelong...

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of General Psychiatry·DateJun 6, 2011

Methane gas from cows -- the proof is in the poo

Researchers have found a link between methane production and levels of archaeol in the faeces of cows, sheep, and deer, offering a potential solution to quantify animal methane contributions. The discovery could enable more accurate assessments of global greenhouse gas emissions.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalAnimal Feed Science and Technology·DateJun 6, 2011

Adherence to certain dietary pattern associated with lower BMI in adolescent girls

A study published in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine found that adolescent girls who followed a DASH-style diet had smaller gains in overall body mass index (BMI) over 10 years compared to those on other diets. Higher consumption of fruits, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products was associated with less weight gain.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine·DateJun 6, 2011

Survival niche for cancer cells

Researchers have discovered that cancer cells use specific chemokines to create a survival niche in the lymph nodes and spleen, allowing them to grow and develop. This niche is created by the interaction between cancer cells and stromal cells, which secrete increased quantities of chemokines CCL19/CCL21.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalBlood·DateJun 6, 2011

Hard or soft: At the touch of a button

Researchers have created a new metallic high-performance material that can switch between strong and brittle behavior and soft and malleable states at the touch of a button. The discovery, made by Prof. Dr. Jörg Weißmüller and Hai-Jun Jin, opens doors to diverse applications such as self-healing materials and intelligent structures.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalScience·DateJun 6, 2011

Study examines impact of Massachusetts health law on emergency department visits

A new study published in Annals of Emergency Medicine found that Massachusetts' health care reform law increased overall emergency department visits by 4.1% between 2006 and 2008, but reduced low-severity visits for the uninsured and Medicaid recipients. The authors suggest that limitations on primary care access and low co-payments ma...

SourceBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center·JournalAnnals of Emergency Medicine·DateJun 6, 2011

A study analyzes the role of universities and technology institutes in firm innovation

The study found that technology centers and universities have different types of clients among the business sector, with universities collaborating with larger firms and technology institutes working with smaller companies. The research also highlights the importance of complementary relationships between these institutions to foster i...

SourceUniversidad Carlos III de Madrid·JournalEuropean Planning Studies·DateJun 6, 2011

Study suggests link between childhood bullying and adult intimate partner violence perpetration

A study suggests a strong link between childhood bullying and adult intimate partner violence perpetration. Men who bullied peers in childhood are more likely to perpetrate violence against an intimate partner in adulthood. The study found that frequent bullies had 3.82 times the odds of perpetrating past-year IPV.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine·DateJun 6, 2011

Miscanthus adapts

A study on Miscanthus species reveals their potential as high-yield energy crops capable of growing on marginal land. The authors found that wild populations have genetic variation and adaptation that could provide valuable resources for the development of bioenergy crops.

SourceWiley·JournalGCB Bioenergy·DateJun 6, 2011

Virtual water cannot remedy freshwater shortage

A new study published in Environmental Research Letters found that virtual water transfers are unlikely to equalize water use among nations due to existing inequalities. The researchers concluded that the current amount of virtual water is insufficient to overcome these constraints.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateJun 6, 2011

International study reveals mental disorders are leading cause of disability in young people worldwide

A comprehensive global study found that neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression and schizophrenia, account for 45% of the disease burden among young people aged 10-24 years. The study highlights the need to focus on prevention programs and health promotion against non-communicable and non-fatal causes of disease in adolescence.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateJun 6, 2011

Going with the flow: Caltech researchers find compaction bands in sandstone are permeable

Researchers have discovered that compaction bands in sandstone are more permeable than previously believed, which could significantly improve the development of hydraulic fracturing and CO2 sequestration technologies. This finding was made possible by advanced imaging techniques and multiscale computational models.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJun 6, 2011

Prolonging life carries more weight

A recent study found that oncologists value life-prolonging treatments more than quality-enhancing ones when making chemotherapy decisions. The authors also noted that there is a lack of standardized methods for analyzing cost-effectiveness in healthcare. This disparity is particularly notable in the United States, where there are no g...

SourceSAGE·JournalMedical Decision Making·DateJun 6, 2011

Engineering new weapons in the fight against juvenile diabetes

Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have created a closed-loop artificial pancreas that can automatically monitor blood sugar levels and administer insulin to individuals with Type 1 diabetes. The device aims to reduce the guesswork involved in daily insulin management, which is crucial for maintaining stable glucose levels.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalJournal of Diabetes Science and Technology·DateJun 6, 2011

Immune cells link pregnancy and tumor spread

Research in mice reveals a link between pregnancy and tumor dissemination, with decreased NK cell activity and myeloid-derived suppressor cells contributing to metastasis. The study suggests that these immune cells may represent a shared mechanism of immune suppression during pregnancy and tumor growth.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJun 6, 2011

The faithless side of suicide bombing

A new study argues that female suicide bombing is a military tactic used by terrorist groups to justify acts that deviate from mainstream Islam. The study's findings suggest that the use of female suicide bombers is not based on Islamic doctrine, but rather on strategic and military utility.

SourceSpringer·JournalGender Issues·DateJun 6, 2011

Expertise provides buffer against bias in making judgments

Researchers found that domain expertise insulates experts from biases caused by monetary favors, using functional MRI scans. Non-experts, however, are more susceptible to such biases, which can affect their judgments in various areas, including politics and medicine.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 6, 2011

Deciding to stay or go is a deep-seated brain function

Researchers at Duke University have identified a brain function that governs the decision to stay or go in search of food, a fundamental problem in evolutionary history. The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex steadily increases its activity during foraging decisions until a threshold level is reached, prompting the individual to move on.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateJun 6, 2011

New neurons take 6 months or more to mature in non-human primate brain

Researchers found that new neurons in adult monkeys take more than six months to mature, which challenges the notion that this process is related to the effectiveness of antidepressant medications. This finding suggests that the human brain may experience even longer maturation periods due to its larger size.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 6, 2011

Good youth programs help teens learn to think not just logically, but strategically

A University of Illinois study found that high-quality youth arts and leadership programs help teens develop strategic thinking skills, including learning to anticipate unexpected twists and turns. Teens who participated in these programs reported improved time management, goal-setting, and critical thinking abilities.

BSSA tip sheet for June 2011

Researchers found that a buried mangrove layer in the Caribbean dampens seismic waves, reducing liquefaction risk. A new active fault was also identified near Lake Tahoe using LiDAR technology, potentially threatening the area with a magnitude 6.4-6.9 earthquake.

SourceSeismological Society of America·JournalBulletin of the Seismological Society of America·DateJun 6, 2011

BUSM study finds higher adherence to dash-style diet reduces excess weight gain in adolescent girls

A Boston University School of Medicine study found that higher adherence to the DASH diet reduced excess weight gain in adolescent girls over a 10-year period. The study, which examined a racially diverse sample of girls aged nine and 10, discovered that those with the highest intake of DASH-like food groups had smaller gains in BMI.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalArchives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine·DateJun 6, 2011