Culture | Science Codex

Copper-nickel nanowires could be perfect fit for printable electronics

DURHAM, N.C. – While the Statue of Liberty and old pennies may continue to turn green, printed electronics and media screens made of copper nanowires will always keep their original color.

Duke University chemists created a new set of flexible, electrically conductive nanowires from thin strands of copper atoms mixed with nickel. The copper-nickel nanowires, in the form of a film, conduct electricity even under conditions that break down the transfer of electrons in plain silver and copper nanowires, a new study shows.

Livestock industry beefs up Illinois's economy

URBANA – A recent report conducted by the University of Illinois provides an economic snapshot of the current state of the livestock industry, giving the Illinois livestock industry data to back up their importance to the state. The data show the production sector of the industry contributing to more than 25,000 jobs and $3.5 billion to the state's economy. When combined with meat and dairy processing, the numbers are an even more impressive 99,000 jobs and $27 billion.

Why do Scots die younger?

Glasgow, UK, May 29, 2012 - Life expectancy in Scotland is markedly lower compared to other European nations and the UK as a whole [1]. But what are the reasons for this higher mortality? An explanatory framework, synthesising the evidence is published this month in Public Health.

Does dinner make a strong family, or does a strong family make dinner?

ITHACA, N.Y. – The family meal is often touted and encouraged for its social and health benefits, but a new Cornell University study questions the nature of this association, finding that the perceived benefits may not be as strong or as lasting once a number of factors are controlled for.

Cabazitaxel can offer an advantage in certain patients

Cabazitaxel (trade name: Jevtana®) has been approved since March 2011 in men with metastatic prostate cancer who no longer respond to conventional therapy with hormone blockers and have already been pre-treated with the cytostatic drug docetaxel. In an early benefit assessment pursuant to the "Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products" (AMNOG), the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined whether cabazitaxel offers an added benefit compared with the present standard therapy.

STeleR study: Telerehab improves functioning after stroke

INDIANAPOLIS -- Researchers led by Regenstrief Institute investigator Neale Chumbler, Ph.D., a research scientist with the Center of Excellence on Implementing Evidence-Based Practice at the Richard Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis, have developed STeleR, a home telerehabilitation program that they report improves lower body physical functioning after a stroke.

Use of stun guns increases injuries

The police use of stun guns increases the risk of injuries for those on the receiving end, but tends to increase officer safety, according to the most comprehensive study of such devices to date.

But when officers use stun guns in conjunction with other restraint methods, they also face an increase risk of injury.

Those are the conclusions of two joint studies from the University of Central Florida and Michigan State University recently published in the journals, Justice Quarterly and Police Quarterly.

Researchers have created glasses that indicate obstacles to patients with visual handicaps

People with moderate visual impairment, particularly those who have difficulty perceiving the full extent of their surroundings, could use the ingenious device that these UC3M scientists have created. "This device is aimed at people who would bump into everything that they fail to see because of their loss of visual field, caused by glaucoma, retinal pathologies, etc.", states the head of the project Professor Ricardo Vergaz, of UC3M's Electronics Technology Department.

Marine reserves provide baby bonus to fisheries

An international team of scientists has gathered the first conclusive evidence that marine reserves can help restock exploited fish populations on neighbouring reefs which are open to both commercial and recreational fishing.

The groundbreaking study was carried out in the Keppel Island group on Australia's Great Barrier Reef by researchers from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (CoECRS), in conjunction with other leading research institutions, and is reported in the latest issue of the journal Current Biology.

Mobile technology, remote coaching, financial incentives may help improve diet, activity level

CHICAGO – The diet and activity levels of patients may be improved through use of mobile technology, remote coaching and financial incentives, according to a report of a randomized controlled trial published in the May 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, a JAMA Network publication.

Aggressively controlling glucose levels may not reduce kidney failure in Type 2 diabetes

Yale School of Medicine researchers have found that intensively controlling glucose (glycemic) levels in type-2 diabetes patients may not reduce the risk of kidney failure. The study, which is a review of data from seven clinical trials, is published in the May 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

New stem cell technique promises abundance of key heart cells

MADISON -- Cardiomyocytes, the workhorse cells that make up the beating heart, can now be made cheaply and abundantly in the laboratory.

Early physical therapist treatment associated with reduced risk of healthcare utilization and reduced overall healthcare costs

ALEXANDRIA, VA, May 25, 2012 – A new study published in Spine shows that early treatment by a physical therapist for low back pain (LBP), as compared to delayed treatment, was associated with reduced risk of subsequent healthcare utilization and lower overall healthcare costs.

70 percent of women use contraceptives during their first sexual encounter

"There are many factors that influence the correlation between the region and women at an intermediate level" continues the researcher. "These factors which influence the context must be taken into account to ensure all women throughout Spain have equal access to contraceptives regardless of their socio-economic level or the area where they live."

There are still inequalities

Cedars-Sinai physician definitively links irritable bowel syndrome and bacteria in gut

LOS ANGELES (May 25, 2012) – An overgrowth of bacteria in the gut has been definitively linked to Irritable Bowel Syndrome in the results of a new Cedars-Sinai study which used cultures from the small intestine. This is the first study to use this "gold standard" method of connecting bacteria to the cause of the disease that affects an estimated 30 million people in the United States.