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Science News Archive February 2013 - Page 27


Page 27 of 28

20 hours of TV a week almost halves sperm count

A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that watching TV for more than 20 hours a week can almost halve sperm count, while exercising 15 or more hours a week can improve it by 73%. Moderate to vigorous exercise also has a positive impact on semen quality.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalBritish Journal of Sports Medicine·DateFeb 4, 2013

Hoodoos -- key to earthquakes?

Researchers studied two hoodoos in Red Rock Canyon to estimate the force necessary to break sandstone shafts, shedding light on ground motion during recent earthquakes. The study suggests median or low-level ground motion despite large quakes in the area, providing valuable constraints for probabilistic seismic hazard assessments.

SourceSeismological Society of America·JournalBulletin of the Seismological Society of America·DateFeb 4, 2013

New criteria for automated preschool vision screening

The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus has revised its guidelines for automated preschool vision screening, focusing on detecting amblyopia risk factors in young children. The new criteria include separate thresholds for different age groups, lower referral rates for young children, and the use of tradition...

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalJournal of American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus·DateFeb 4, 2013

Chili peppers spark discovery

Researchers at Washington State University have made a breakthrough in repairing damaged brain cells using the active compound of chili peppers. The discovery has potential to provide relief for concussions and other health effects seen in athletes and head-injury victims.

Into the quantum Internet at the speed of light

A research team at the University of Innsbruck has successfully transferred quantum information from an atom to a single photon, paving the way for the construction of a quantum internet. This breakthrough enables the transfer of quantum information over optical channels between quantum computers.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature Photonics·DateFeb 4, 2013

Vitamin C supplements linked to kidney stones

A large population-based study of men found that those taking vitamin C supplements are twice as likely to develop kidney stones as non-supplement users. The risk increased with the frequency of supplement use. Conversely, multivitamin use was not associated with an increased risk of kidney stones.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateFeb 4, 2013

A little tag with a large effect

A recent study found that the epigenetic marker 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) plays a vital role in the selective expression of genes, particularly in healthy brain cells. The study also discovered that changes in 5hmC distribution are associated with gene silencing and may contribute to cancer development.

Pioneering research helps to unravel the brain's vision secrets

A new study identified two neighboring areas of the cortex as processing different types of visual information independently. The researchers used magnetic fields to disrupt neural activity, revealing that one area plays a causal role in processing orientation, while another underpins shape recognition based on curvature differences.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateFeb 3, 2013

Recreating natural complex gene regulation

Researchers developed a system to artificially simulate natural complex interactions between proteins that regulate genes, allowing for precise control over gene activation. This breakthrough enables scientists to better understand human gene regulation and develop new gene-based therapies.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Methods·DateFeb 3, 2013

Novel radiation therapy method shortens prostate cancer treatment time

A new radiation therapy method using volume-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) has been shown to significantly reduce prostate cancer treatment time by approximately 14%. The study found that VMAT patients had shorter average room times, with some patients experiencing similar treatment times as those using gold-marker tracking.

SourceAmerican College of Radiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Radiology·DateFeb 1, 2013

Nurses at forefront of genomics in health care

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) emphasizes the importance of genomic knowledge for nursing care, highlighting its relevance to advancing patient care. Genomic studies published in the Journal of Nursing Scholarship provide insights on genetic applications in nursing practice, including cancer risk assessment and prevention.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Nursing Scholarship·DateFeb 1, 2013

A gut feeling about neural stem cells

Scientists at the University of Melbourne have successfully transplanted neural stem cells into mice, which then migrated to the gut and developed into functional neurons. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for intestinal motility disorders such as Hirschsprung's disease.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateFeb 1, 2013

If you are impulsive, take modafinil and count to 10

Researchers found that modafinil improved response inhibition in patients with initially poor impulse control, but had a detrimental effect in those with low initial impulsivity levels. The study suggests personalized medicine approaches may be necessary when prescribing modafinil for treatment of alcohol dependence.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateFeb 1, 2013

Overdose education, bystander nasal naloxone rescue kits associated with decreased opioid overdose death

A study found that overdose education and naloxone distribution programs in Massachusetts led to a significant reduction in opioid overdose death rates. The programs educated people at risk of overdose and provided them with naloxone rescue kits, which are safe and effective antidotes for reversing life-threatening opioid overdose effe...

Routes towards defect-free graphene

A new technique has been developed to grow graphene without defects, enabling the creation of larger sheets with aligned flakes and improved electron flow. This breakthrough has significant implications for industrial-scale graphene manufacturing and the development of graphene-based technologies in electronics, energy, and healthcare.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalACS Nano·DateFeb 1, 2013

Bioelectric signals can be used to detect early cancer

Biologists at Tufts University have identified a unique bioelectric signal in cells that are likely to develop into tumors, which they can use to detect early cancer. By manipulating the electrical charge across cells' membranes, they can lower the incidence of cancerous cells and suppress abnormal cell growth.

SourceTufts University·JournalDisease Models & Mechanisms·DateFeb 1, 2013

Study: Infection preventionists know safe care

A study found that hospital infection preventionists generally agree on the effectiveness of certain practices in preventing healthcare-associated infections. These practices include alcohol-based hand rub, aseptic urinary catheter insertion, and maximum sterile barriers during central venous catheter insertion. However, non-certified ...

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalAmerican Journal of Infection Control·DateFeb 1, 2013