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Science News Archive April 2012 - Page 13


Page 13 of 29

Finding the roots and early branches of the tree of life

A study in PLOS Computational Biology reconstructs the complete early evolutionary history of biological carbon-fixation. The researchers identified an early form of carbon fixation that achieved built-in robustness, allowing early life to compensate for internal chemistry issues.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateApr 19, 2012

Swallowing exercises can help patients with head and neck cancer

A study published in Archives of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery suggests that targeted swallowing exercises can alleviate debilitating side effects in people undergoing chemoradiation therapy for head and neck cancer. Patients who performed five targeted swallowing exercises throughout their CRT showed significantly better scores...

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalArchives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery·DateApr 19, 2012

Study: Optimizing biofuel supply chain is a competitive game

Researchers developed models to address complex interactions among multiple stakeholders in the biofuel supply chain. They found that diverting corn crops to ethanol can affect food prices, but overall system welfare improves, with farmers as primary beneficiaries. The study's holistic model provides guidelines for optimizing the biofu...

Political blogging on the right and the left

A new study published in the American Behavioral Scientist found that left-wing blogs are more collaborative and less individualistic than right-wing blogs. Left-wing blogs incorporate more user activity, authorship, and calls to action, while right-wing blogs tend to be more hierarchical and rely on external sources.

SourceSAGE·JournalAmerican Behavioral Scientist·DateApr 19, 2012

It's the network!

Researchers at Northwestern University develop a new theory of networks, establishing relationships between disparate topics such as friendship paradoxes and material properties. The study reveals that cascading processes can be controlled and collective behavior depends on network properties, opening new avenues for disease treatment ...

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalPhysics Today·DateApr 18, 2012

New findings in breast cancer

A recent study published in PNAS contradicts the prevailing belief that basal-like cells are responsible for invasive tumors. Luminal-like cells, previously thought to lack stem cell properties, have been found to be highly tumorigenic and capable of generating larger tumors than their basal-like counterparts.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 18, 2012

Autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cell transplants can reduce diabetic amputations

Researchers found that autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cell transplants can significantly induce vascular growth, reducing the number of amputations in patients with diabetes suffering from critical limb ischemia. The study showed a significant increase in neovasculogenesis and a decrease in PAD mortality.

Genetic similarity promotes cooperation -- new study

Researchers from the University of Leicester discovered a new mechanism for cooperation in simple organisms, where individuals prefer those who resemble themselves. This 'similarity discrimination' effect can evolve quickly and powerfully in many social encounters, solving the long-standing puzzle of natural selection.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalJournal of Theoretical Biology·DateApr 18, 2012

Jellyfish on the rise: UBC study

A global study by University of British Columbia researchers found increasing jellyfish populations in 62% of the world's coastal ecosystems, including East Asia and Antarctica. The study also notes decreases in jellyfish abundance in seven per cent of coastal regions.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalHydrobiologia·DateApr 18, 2012

Meat eating led to earlier weaning, helped humans spread across globe

A recent study found that carnivorous mammals, including humans, tend to have shorter breast-feeding periods than herbivorous or omnivorous species. This may be due to the higher-quality diet that allows for earlier brain development and weaning. The research suggests that meat-eating played a crucial role in human evolution and popula...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 18, 2012

Live fast, die young

A recent study found that plant species living in urban backyards are closer related to each other and live shorter than those in rural areas. The study, conducted by Jeannine Cavender-Bares and Sonja Knapp, analyzed the diversity of plant species in private yards in Minneapolis and compared it to nearby natural ecosystems.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalEcology·DateApr 18, 2012

Carrot but no stick for a healthy child

Norwegian researchers recommend parents provide healthy food options, involve kids in cooking and shopping, and avoid restrictive rules. The study found daily fruit and vegetable consumption among Norwegian children is below recommended levels, sparking concerns.

SourceUniversity of Stavanger·JournalBMC Medical Research Methodology·DateApr 18, 2012