Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive September 2012 - Page 11


Page 11 of 27

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

Study: DNA barcoding can ID natural health products

A new study by University of Guelph researchers has found that DNA barcoding can accurately identify natural health products with up to 88% effectiveness. This technique uses short genetic sequences to compare specimens to reference databases, making it an efficient tool for authenticating products.

SourceUniversity of Guelph·JournalFood Research International·DateSep 19, 2012

People change moral position without even realizing it

Researchers discovered that people's moral attitudes are more flexible than thought, with participants often constructing coherent arguments supporting the opposite of their original position. The study highlights the potential limitations of self-reported questionnaires in capturing complex attitudes.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateSep 19, 2012

Stop diabetes with insulin tablets

A new study suggests that oral insulin may prevent or delay the onset of type 1 diabetes among individuals with autoantibodies against insulin. The study found that participants who took oral insulin had a delayed development of type 1 diabetes compared to those who took placebo capsules. The delaying effect was attributed to the immun...

SourceLund University·JournalDiabetes Care·DateSep 19, 2012

Warming ocean could start big shift of Antarctic ice

A new study reveals how warming waters in the Southern Ocean can connect with the movement of massive ice-sheets deep in the Antarctic interior. The research found that ocean warming can trigger increased flow of ice through narrow glaciers, causing inland sectors of the ice-sheet to become thinner and flow faster.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 19, 2012

World record holder

Northwestern University scientists have developed a thermoelectric material that can convert 15-20% of waste heat to useful electricity. The material exhibits a ZT of 2.2, the highest reported to date, and has the potential to recover high-temperature waste heat and turn it into usable energy.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature·DateSep 19, 2012

Oral bacteria may signal pancreatic cancer risk

A study found that high antibody levels for Porphyromonas gingivalis were associated with a two-fold risk of pancreatic cancer, while high levels of antibodies for commensal oral bacteria were linked to a 45-percent lower risk. The study strengthens the suggestion that oral bacteria may be indicators of pancreatic cancer risk.

SourceBrown University·JournalGut·DateSep 18, 2012

Engineering a better hip implant

A study by University of Iowa researchers found that morbidly obese patients experience higher dislocation rates due to increased thigh girth, which creates hip instability. The team suggests surgeons modify procedures and consider new implant designs to minimize this risk.

SourceUniversity of Iowa·JournalClinical Orthopaedics and Related Research·DateSep 18, 2012

CEO incentives should be more strategic

A study by Michigan State University scholars suggests that CEOs who have three times as much prospective wealth as current wealth are more willing to take risks. Companies can influence CEO risk-taking behavior by issuing equity pay strategically, rather than relying on predetermined quantities.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalAcademy of Management Journal·DateSep 18, 2012