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Science News for August 6, 2012


Study examines racial/ethnic disparities in cranial CT among children

Research suggests racial/ethnic disparities exist in the use of cranial CT scans among children with minor blunt head trauma, particularly for those at lowest or intermediate risk. Children from white non-Hispanic backgrounds may be more likely to undergo the procedure, while those from black or Hispanic backgrounds have lower odds.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine·DateAug 6, 2012

Curiosity ready to rove Mars

Curiosity rover successfully landed on Mars in August, beginning its primary mission to assess the planet's surface radiation environment. Researchers will use the Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) instrument to measure energetic particle species and provide insights into potential habitability.

New research studies policy divergence, voter polarization in elections

A study from University of Illinois economics professors demonstrates a new method to analyze relationships among voters' issue preferences, candidates' policy positions, and voter behavior. The researchers found that policy divergence has increased significantly since the 1970s, particularly on cultural issues.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Political Economy·DateAug 6, 2012

Anti-angina drug shows protective effects from carbon monoxide

Researchers at the University of Leeds have found that ranolazine can significantly reduce arrhythmias triggered by carbon monoxide exposure. The anti-angina drug works by targeting a sodium channel in the heart, potentially protecting against cardiac events caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateAug 6, 2012

Birds do better in 'agroforests' than on farms

A University of Utah study found that agroforests with shade-grown coffee and cacao promote greater bird diversity compared to open farmland. The findings suggest that as forests are converted to open agriculture, bird species providing ecosystem services like insect control, seed dispersal, and pollination may decline.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalJournal of Ornithology·DateAug 6, 2012

Scientists define new limits of microbial life in undersea volcanoes

A third of Earth's organisms live in rocks and sediments, but their lives have been a mystery. Scientists have now shed light into this dark world by studying methane-exhaling microbes in hot undersea volcanoes. The research reveals that these microbes thrive in environments with low hydrogen levels and have symbiotic relationships bet...

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 6, 2012

Gladstone scientists discover that epilepsy drug reverses memory loss in animal model of AD

Researchers at Gladstone Institutes found that levetiracetam, an FDA-approved anti-epileptic drug, reverses memory loss and alleviates other Alzheimer's-related impairments in mice genetically modified to simulate key aspects of the disease. The study shows how levetiracetam suppresses abnormal brain activity and restores memory function.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 6, 2012

Sun monitor set to go on the market

A new UV dosimeter monitor is set to be commercially available, helping prevent sunburn and over-exposure to ultra-violet radiation. The device, developed at the University of Strathclyde, provides a visual warning when risk levels increase, allowing users to enjoy the sun safely.

Creatine aids women in outmuscling major depression

A study found that adding creatine to antidepressant treatment significantly improved response rates, with twice as fast response times and higher remission rates compared to placebo. The supplement may provide a relatively inexpensive treatment option for women who haven't responded well to traditional antidepressants.

SourceUniversity of Utah Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry·DateAug 6, 2012

Mothers, children underestimate obesity in China

Research found that 69% of overweight Chinese children underestimated their own weight, while 72% of mothers rated their children as normal or underweight. This highlights the importance of accurate perceptions of weight in preventing childhood obesity.

SourcePenn State·JournalWorld Journal of Pediatrics·DateAug 6, 2012

White children more likely to receive CT scans than Hispanic or African-American children

A recent study by researchers at UC Davis found that white children are more likely to receive cranial CT scans following minor head trauma compared to Hispanic and African-American children. This may be due to unnecessary radiation exposure, as white children were more likely to have parental anxiety cited as a reason for the scan.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalArchives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine·DateAug 6, 2012

Fainting: All in the family?

Research found that fainting triggers were common among twin sets, with identical twins more likely to experience fainting associated with typical triggers. The study suggests multiple genes and environmental factors influence the phenomenon of fainting.

SourceAmerican Academy of Neurology·JournalNeurology·DateAug 6, 2012

Researchers peek at the early evolution of sex chromosomes

Researchers studying papaya's sex chromosomes have found that the X chromosome has undergone significant changes since its emergence, including rapid expansion and gene loss. These findings challenge previous assumptions about the early stages of sex chromosome evolution and provide insights into the human X chromosome.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 6, 2012

JCI early table of contents for Aug. 6, 2012

Researchers found that CCR9 is abundant in early stage colon cancer but lacks in invasive and metastatic cancer, suggesting its role in reducing cancer spread. Activation of NOTCH promotes degradation of CCR9, inhibiting the chemokine-induced signaling pathway.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateAug 6, 2012

The scientific side of steroid use and abuse

Research highlights the dangers of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) on adolescent brain function and behavior. Studies show that exposure to AAS at critical periods during adolescence can impose permanent changes in brain organization and function, leading to physiological and psychiatric effects that may persist into middle age.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalTrends in Neurosciences·DateAug 6, 2012

Those who are covered, recover

A recent study by Johns Hopkins researchers reveals that being underinsured is a strong predictor of death among patients admitted to hospital with serious cardiac events. The study found that underinsured patients had a higher risk of early death compared to those with private insurance, regardless of their racial background.

SourceSpringer Science+Business Media·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateAug 6, 2012

Taking a hit or 2

A new 'Multi-Hit' mouse model has been developed to study interactions between gene mutations that cause cancer, revealing key findings about the role of Ras and other genes in tumour development. The research suggests that combinations of mutations can lead to cancer, making it a crucial step towards understanding treatment options.

Lab in the Wild asks: What's your Internet like?

The Lab in the Wild project aims to gather data on how people think, perceive information, and use technology from around the world. Researchers will analyze thousands of users' responses to tests designed to elicit information about their online culture, including preferences for website design and functionality.

Identifying a new target for ALS treatment

A recent study found that an inflammatory monocyte population plays a key role in ALS progression, suggesting it as a potential therapeutic target. Monocyte depletion reduced cellular recruitment to the spinal cord, decreased CNS cell death, and extended survival time in mice with ALS.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateAug 6, 2012

Infants of overweight mothers grow more slowly

A recent study published in the Journal of Pediatrics found that babies born to overweight or obese mothers gained less weight and grew less in length than those born to normal-weight mothers. This delayed growth may be attributed to inflammation and an underdeveloped pituitary gland, which plays a crucial role in fetal development.

SourceUniversity of Iowa·JournalPEDIATRICS·DateAug 6, 2012