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Science News Archive March 2013 - Page 17


Page 17 of 30

Symbols, such as traffic lights, on menus effective in educating diners

Research suggests that combining numeric calorie labels with symbolic labels, such as traffic lights, is a more effective way to influence patrons to select healthier options. The study found that the combination label reduced total calories ordered by about 69 calories on average, while numeric labels alone had less impact.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity·DateMar 13, 2013

Sex at zero gravity

Researchers from the University of Montreal studied how hypergravity and microgravity affect plant reproduction, brain diseases, and cancer. They found that changes in gravity impact cellular traffic flow and construction of the cellular envelope, leading to compromised cell functioning and potential implications for human health.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMar 13, 2013

Bradley Hospital researchers find age-related changes in how autism affects the brain

A new study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry has found that autism spectrum disorders affect brain activity differently in children and adults. The research suggests that brain changes associated with autism continue to develop into adulthood, highlighting the need for targeted treatments.

SourceLifespan·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·DateMar 13, 2013

Feynman's double-slit experiment brought to life

Researchers have successfully replicated Feynman's famous double-slit thought-experiment using a gold-coated silicon membrane and a moveable mask. This achievement demonstrates the mysterious properties of electrons, including their ability to produce an interference pattern when fired at the wall one at a time.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateMar 13, 2013

Implementing HPV vaccinations at a young age is significant for vaccine effectiveness

A Swedish study found that females with university-educated parents were 15 times more likely to receive an HPV vaccine before age 20. The researchers also noted a decrease in genital warts incidence among unvaccinated women over 20 years old, suggesting a self-selection bias where high-risk women preferentially sought vaccination.

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateMar 13, 2013

Polo takes the bait

Researchers at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research have made a groundbreaking discovery about a protein called Matrimony (Mtrm), which traps and inactivates the powerful Polo kinase. This finding has significant implications for cancer treatment, as Polo kinase is widely considered to be misregulated in many types of cancer.

SourceStowers Institute for Medical Research·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 13, 2013

Younger doctors more likely to train and work closer to home

New research shows that 36% of UK-trained doctors attend medical school in their hometown, while 34% settle in the same region for their first career post. This trend may be linked to increasing emphasis on 'work-life balance' and shorter training periods.

SourceSAGE·JournalJournal of the Royal Society of Medicine·DateMar 13, 2013

High-performance, NW-OPTs open the way for optoelectronic device miniaturization

Research team at UNIST developed high-performance NW-OPTs, showing enhanced charge-carrier mobility and higher external quantum efficiencies compared to thin-film OPTs. This breakthrough enables bottom-up fabrication of optoelectronic nanodevices with high operational stability and easy control of photoswitching voltages.

SourceUlsan National Institute of Science and Technology(UNIST)·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateMar 13, 2013

Canadians support interventions to reduce dietary salt

A national survey found that 80% of Canadians agree the food industry should reduce salt content in food. The majority supported public health interventions, such as lowering sodium in grocery foods and educating consumers about healthy eating habits. However, there was little support for taxation or subsidies related to sodium reduction.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalCanadian Journal of Cardiology·DateMar 13, 2013