Body | Page 4210 | Science Codex

Philosopher brings human values to environmental decisions

AUSTIN, Texas — When Conservation International began working with one of Indonesia's largest energy companies on an environmentally conscious development plan two years ago, the groups looked to a philosopher for guidance.

Sahotra Sarkar, a professor at The University of Texas at Austin and leader in the study of environmental ethics, worked with the conservationists and energy producers to develop strategies that balance economic development and biodiversity protection while respecting the needs of indigenous people.

Research discovery may lead to advances in heart disease and cancer treatment

New Orleans, LA – Research led by T. Cooper Woods, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, and Director of the Molecular Cardiology Research Laboratory at Ochsner Clinic Foundation, has identified the mechanism of how a drug commonly used on stents to prevent reclosure of coronary arteries, regulates cell movement which is critical to wound healing and the progression of diseases like cancer. The study is published in the April 16th issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Birds of a feather don't always respond together to infection

Little melamine appears in eggs from chickens on highly contaminated feed

Eggs from chickens that consumed extremely high levels of melamine in their feed still did not contain levels of the potentially toxic contaminant that exceeded U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limits. That was the conclusion of the first study to check on the effects of melamine-contaminated feed in laying hens. It appears in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a bi-weekly publication.

New class of drug kills lymphoma cells

NEW YORK (April 13, 2010) -- Researchers from the Sackler Center at Weill Cornell Medical College have designed a new class of drugs that targets BCL6, a master regulatory protein responsible for causing the most common type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The onion, a natural alternative to artificial preservatives

Some components of the onion have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, making it possible to use this bulb for food preservation. This is demonstrated by researchers from the Polytechnic University of Cataluña (UPC) and the University of Barcelona (UB) in a study that has just been published in the International Journal of Food Science and Technology.

'Love handles' repurposed for breast reconstruction in women without enough belly fat

A new technique using tissue from those below-the-waist "love handles" improves cosmetic breast reconstruction in slim, athletic cancer patients without adequate fat sources elsewhere, a small Johns Hopkins study has found. The method also turns out to be less complicated than other options for surgeons as well, the research shows.

Francisco Ayala's literature shows that violence against women cuts across all classes

The novel The Bottom of the Glass, written by the recently deceased Francisco Ayala, shows that violence against women cuts across all social classes. This is the conclusion drawn from the study titled Entre la estupidez y el honor: La violencia en el fondo del vaso de Francisco Ayala, conducted by Alana Gómez Gray. It was published in the specialised journal Sociocriticism, coordinated by professor Antonio Chicharro Chamorro.

Sizing up the competition: Researchers compare body composition measurement techniques

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Measuring body composition – the amount of fatty tissue, muscle tissue and bone present in the body – can provide valuable information for determining an individual's overall health status. However, obtaining accurate measurements can be difficult and expensive, according to Steve Ball, University of Missouri Extension fitness specialist. Now, MU researchers are comparing measurement techniques to determine the most efficient and cost-effective method for assessing body composition.

Printed origami offers new technique for complex structues

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Although it looks small and unassuming, the tiny origami crane sitting in a sample dish in University of Illinois professor Jennifer Lewis' lab heralds a new method for creating complex three-dimensional structures for biocompatible devices, microscaffolding and other microsystems. The penny-sized titanium bird began as a printed sheet of titanium hydride ink.

The team will publish their novel technique in the April 14 online edition of the journal Advanced Materials.

DNA analysis suggests whale meat from sushi restaurants in L.A., Seoul originated from Japan

CORVALLIS, Ore. – An international team of Oregon State University scientists, documentary filmmakers and environmental advocates has uncovered an apparent illegal trade in whalemeat, linking whales killed in Japan's controversial scientific whaling program to sushi restaurants in Seoul, South Korea, and Los Angeles, Calif.

Tobacco policies: Smoking bans reduce exposure to secondhand smoke and reduce heart attacks

In countries and states that have introduced policies that restrict smoking in public, people have less exposure to secondhand smoke. There is also a reduction in the number of people who have heart attacks, as well as an improvement in other indicators of health. These findings are reported in a new review published in the April issue of The Cochrane Library.

Malaria: Poor data on key mosquito control tool a threat to effective malaria prevention

Despite wide acclaim as a successful policy there is currently almost no quantitative evidence showing how well spraying the walls of people's homes with mosquito-killing insecticide really works against malaria. This is the key finding of a new Cochrane Systematic Review.

Research reveals secrets of female sexual arousal

By using a novel prototype drug, researchers have discovered more about the mechanisms underlying female sexual arousal, according to findings published today in the British Journal of Pharmacology.

Weight-loss surgery lowers risk of pregnancy complications in obese women

Obese women who undergo bariatric surgery before having a baby have a much lower risk of developing serious health problems during pregnancy, finds a study published on bmj.com today.