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Science News for March 30, 2012


Middle-of-the-night PCIs do not adversely affect success of next-day procedures

A new study published in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions found that middle-of-the-night PCIs do not adversely affect the safety and effectiveness of procedures performed the next day by the same operator. The researchers identified no significant difference in complication rates or outcomes between PCIs performed durin...

SourceWiley·JournalCatheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions·DateMar 30, 2012

Grant to fuel baking soda cancer therapy research

The University of Arizona has received a $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop an innovative magnetic resonance imaging method for measuring pH levels in tumors. This technique aims to personalize cancer treatments, such as baking soda therapy, and predict their effectiveness before treatment begins.

Extreme weather threatens rich ecosystems

Mathematical modelling and simulation reveal that extreme species-rich ecosystems are most vulnerable to cascading extinctions in an increasingly variable world. This finding contradicts previous studies suggesting that species-rich ecosystems are more robust.

SourceLinköping University·JournalEcology and Evolution·DateMar 30, 2012

ADHD is over-diagnosed

A study by Ruhr-University Bochum and University of Basel reveals that ADHD is often misdiagnosed based on heuristics rather than adhering to recognized diagnostic criteria. The researchers found that boys are substantially more likely to be misdiagnosed compared to girls, with male therapists also tending to give more frequent diagnoses.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalJournal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·DateMar 30, 2012

NIH study finds women spend longer in labor now than 50 years ago

A recent NIH study found that women take longer to give birth today compared to 50 years ago, with an average increase of 2.6 hours for first-time mothers. The study suggests that changes in delivery practices, including the increased use of epidural anesthesia and oxytocin, may be contributing to the longer labor duration.

SourceNIH/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development·JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology·DateMar 30, 2012

Volcanic plumbing exposed

Researchers from the University of Leeds and international teams studied magma chambers on mid-ocean ridges, revealing new information about their location and behavior. The findings can help scientists identify early warning signs of impending eruptions, which is crucial for predicting large volcanic events.