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Science News Archive June 2011 - Page 22


Page 22 of 28

Air quality worsened by paved surfaces

A new study suggests that widespread urban development can lead to reduced nighttime winds and increased air pollution in coastal cities. Researchers found that paved surfaces absorb heat, reducing the temperature contrast between land and sea, and causing stagnation. This can result in a buildup of pollutants during warm summer weather.

Coseasonality of influenza and invasive pneumococcal disease

A study found that infection with influenza likely increases the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Influenza infection may increase the short-term risk of bacterial invasion in individuals already colonized with Streptococcus pneumoniae, which causes IPD. This suggests that some cases of IPD could be attributable to inf...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateJun 7, 2011

UK Government plans for mentally ill prisoners are unrealistic, research suggests

Research suggests that UK government plans to divert mentally ill prisoners into mental health services are unlikely to succeed due to a lack of suitable facilities. The study found that only a small percentage of psychotic prisoners receive treatment, and those who do often face significant barriers to follow-up care after release.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalInternational Journal of Law and Psychiatry·DateJun 7, 2011

Dolphins use double sonar

Researchers have discovered that dolphins can generate two sound beam projections simultaneously, each with different frequencies and directions. This ability could help dolphins locate objects more accurately, according to Dr. Josefin Starkhammar, who led the study published in Biology Letters.

SourceLund University·JournalBiology Letters·DateJun 7, 2011

Bacteria on old-growth trees may help forests grow

A new study reveals that bacteria living in mosses on tree branches contribute to nutrient dynamics, sustaining the long-term productivity of coastal temperate rainforests. Large, ancient trees provide habitat for mosses and cyanobacteria, which fix nitrogen and fertilize the forest.

SourceMcGill University·JournalPlant and Soil·DateJun 7, 2011

Women warriors show resilience similar to men

A recent study found that women veterans of US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan experienced similar levels of combat-related stress and post-deployment mental health impacts as their male counterparts. The research, based on survey responses from 595 service members, suggests that women's exposure to combat stress may be only slightly lowe...

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Abnormal Psychology·DateJun 7, 2011

Protein folding made easy

Developing better modeling techniques for protein folding is vital to creating effective pharmaceutical treatments for diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The new algorithm can predict protein folding in 10 minutes on a laptop, improving upon classical methods that required hundreds of thousands of CPU hours.

Dangerous and under the radar

A new report examines the ways to protect sex workers, highlighting the need for decriminalization and policy changes. The study, conducted by Concordia University and University of Windsor researchers, reveals that sex work is increasingly dangerous and unprotected, with many sex workers facing marginalization and violence.

SourceConcordia University·JournalCanadian Review of Sociology/Revue canadienne de sociologie·DateJun 7, 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