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Science News Archive 2012 - Page 89


Page 89 of 333

UGA researchers boost efficacy of drugs by using nanoparticles to target 'powerhouse of cells'

Researchers at UGA have developed a new method for delivering drugs to mitochondria, increasing the effectiveness of cancer, Alzheimer's, and obesity treatments. The approach uses biodegradable nanoparticles to target the 'powerhouse of cells', resulting in improved survival rates for brain cells and reduced fat production.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 19, 2012

GEOLOGY adds 30 new articles online

The study on the South Tibetan fault system reveals a minimum displacement of approx. 65 km, suggesting normal faulting played a fundamental role in the Himalayas' evolution. Meanwhile, researchers have discovered glaciation records in the James Bay Lowland, Canada, dating back to 3.5 Ma.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeology·DateSep 19, 2012

Climate scientists put predictions to the test

A study found that climate-prediction models excel at predicting global climate trends over 30-year time frames but struggle with shorter time frames and smaller geographical regions. The researchers used historical climate records to evaluate seven computer simulation models, revealing their reliability on different scales.

Child mortality in Niger plummets

Niger's child mortality rate nearly halves from 226 deaths per 1000 live births to 128 deaths per 1000 live births, with 60,000 children's lives saved in 2009. Low-cost interventions such as insecticide-treated bed nets and vitamin A supplementation contribute to the country's success.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateSep 19, 2012

Odorant shape and vibration likely lead to olfaction satisfaction

A new study suggests that the shape and vibrational characteristics of odorant molecules play a crucial role in our ability to detect different smells. Researchers found that the vibrations of an odorant molecule's chemical bonds contribute to electron transfer, which sends signals to the receptor, enhancing detection.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics·DateSep 19, 2012

Researchers find sudden cardiac death is associated with a thin placenta at birth

A study published in International Journal of Epidemiology found a strong association between sudden cardiac death and a thin placenta at birth, suggesting impaired fetal development of the autonomic nervous system as a contributing factor. The study also found an independent association with poor educational attainment.

SourceOxford University Press UK·JournalInternational Journal of Epidemiology·DateSep 19, 2012

Weight gain worry for stressed black girls

Researchers found that chronic stress predicts greater increases in body weight over time in both black and white girls. However, the negative effect of chronic stress on black girls' weight may explain racial disparities in obesity levels. The study suggests stress may play a role in the obesity epidemic and racial disparities.

SourceSpringer Science+Business Media·JournalAnnals of Behavioral Medicine·DateSep 19, 2012

Cancer in the movies

A new study analyzing 82 movies with cancer storylines found that characters' chances of survival were often misrepresented. Researchers suggest that Hollywood films should tackle the realities of cancer diagnosis and treatment to raise awareness among patients and healthcare professionals.

SourceEuropean Society for Medical Oncology·JournalAnnals of Oncology·DateSep 19, 2012

Evolution is as complicated as 1-2-3

A team of researchers analyzed 29 genomes from different generations of E. coli bacteria to understand how they evolved to supplement their traditional diet with citrate. They discovered a three-step process: potentiation, actualization, and refinement, which led to the development of new biological functions.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalNature·DateSep 19, 2012

Self-forming biological scaffolding

A new model system explores how cells' functional structures assemble through self-organisation. The study reveals that actin filaments, held together by cross-linking proteins and molecular motors, can rapidly compact into highly ordered fibres.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateSep 19, 2012

BIDMC and Diagnostics For All create first low-cost, paper-based, point of care liver function test

Researchers at BIDMC and Diagnostics For All have created a simple and reliable point-of-care liver function test that can be conducted for pennies per test. The device uses a droplet of blood from a finger prick to deliver results in 15 minutes, with greater than 90 percent accuracy compared to the gold standard automated platform test.

SourceBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateSep 19, 2012

Boomers and beyond

The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) is a comprehensive study on aging that will investigate factors affecting health and quality of life in Canadians. The Montreal component, launched by the Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre, will collect data from 3,000 people between ages 45-85 for a 20-year period.

Split-dose preparation for colonoscopy increases precancerous polyp detection rates

A new study found that split-dose preparation significantly improved polyp detection rates and adenoma detection rates, as well as the quality of bowel prep and colonoscopy completion rates. This approach involves dividing the preparation into two doses, taken before and after the procedure, to improve patient compliance and efficacy.

SourceAmerican Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy·JournalGastrointestinal Endoscopy·DateSep 19, 2012

Misinformation: Psychological Science shows why it sticks and how to fix it

A new report highlights the cognitive factors that make misinformation sticky, including the need for cognitive effort to reject information. Effective strategies for debunking or counteracting erroneous beliefs include providing alternative narratives, focusing on facts rather than myths, and considering audience beliefs. Research has...

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science in the Public Interest·DateSep 19, 2012

Blood pressure diet works, but adherence drops among African-Americans

Researchers found that African-Americans are less likely to adopt the DASH diet due to cultural differences, but altering traditional recipes can improve adherence. Significant reductions in blood pressure were seen among participants who followed the DASH diet, especially when combined with exercise and weight loss.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalJournal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics·DateSep 19, 2012

Your memory is like the telephone game

A study by Northwestern University found that human memories adapt and change with each retelling, leading to distorted recall. The research used a telephone game-like scenario where participants recalled object locations, showing improved recall accuracy on the final test for objects tested on day two but never exactly right.

Angling for gold

A new model provides an alternative description of atomic-level gold bonding, taking into account bond directionality. The Tersoff potential model allows for reliable covalent bonds between gold atoms and other materials.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateSep 19, 2012